Princess Giuliana Pubblicola Santacroce

Giuliana Pubblicola Santacroce (after 1746–1814), came from the Florentine Falconieri family; in 1767 she
married Prince Antonio Pubblicola Santacroce. In 1790 the Primate—and
King Stanisław August’s brother—Michał Poniatowski travelled to Rome and
met her through Cardinal François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis, the
French ambassador to Rome, with whom Giuliana had a liaison which lasted
for many years.Through the intermediary of Poniatowski, the Princess’
brother, Lelio Falconieri, was awarded the Order of the White Eagle
a year later, on 3 May 1791, by Stanisław August. The portrait by
Angelika Kauffmann was an expression of gratitude for the Polish king’s
gesture. Princess Santacroce is depicted as the virtuous Roman Lucretia, who
unable to bear shame, chose to die by her own hand. A somewhat unusual
and intriguing detail in this conventional portrayal is the hazy outline
of a mysterious hand which seizes the Princess’ right hand in which she
is holding a dagger. In an emphatic letter to Giuliana Santacroce dated
21 March 1782 Stanislaw August wrote: ‘Quand j’ai appercu sur le
tableau cette main aérienne, qui paroit vouloir retenir le bras armé du
poignard, j’ai cru sentir que la mienne se portait vouloir d’elle même à
faire la même chose…’ [See D. Juszczak, H. Małachowicz, The Stanisław August Collection of Paintings at the Royal Łazienki. Catalogue, Royal Łazienki Museum, Warsaw 2016, no. 54, pp. 213–215.]