Portrait of Prince Jan Sobieski

The portrait presents Jan Sobieski (1682-1685), the youngest son of King John III Sobieski, at the age of 1-2 years. An image of a child with the attributes which show him to be a member of the royal family, without the presence of an adult, was rare in 17th c. Polish art. The child is dressed in a white robe, adorned with antique garments, and another one, crimson, in folds, fastened on his right shoulder with two clips; he is sitting on cushions with corners adorned with fringes in shape of bunches of grapes, which portend a carefree childhood and future prosperity. As a son of the victor from Vienna, the king's namesake has a laurel wreath on his head and an olive branch in his hand; he is sitting under a curtain draped as a canopy, as suited a royal child.