Mykolas Juozapas Masalskis (Michał Józef Massalski), Grand Hetman of Lithuania

Michał Józef Massalski (before 1700–1768) was the son of the Marshal of Hrodno, Jan Massalski, and the father of the Vilnius bishop Ignacy Jakub Massalski. From 1762 he served as Clerk of Lithuania, and from 1737 he was appointed as Voivode of Mscislaw, from1742 – the Castellan of Trakai, and from 1744 – the Castellan of Vilnius and Field Hetman of Lithuania, as well as the Marshal of the Convocation Seim. He was made Grand Hetman of Lithuania in 1762. This is a half-figure portrait. The hetman is depicted seated, turned three-quarters to the right, facing the viewer. In his right hand, bent at the elbow, he is holding a raised hetman’s mace, while his left hand is lowered and holding the handle of his sword. He is wearing a red, fur-lined cloak under which a long, grey tunic and white shirt is visible, held together with a small metal pin. Behind the figure to the left is the side of the back of the chair. The background in dark brown, becoming lighter near the face.