A Unique Book About One Famous Family
Images of the Radvila (Radziwiłł) family by Martinus Franciscus Wöbe, 1758
'Images of the Family of Dukes Radziwiłł' is an album of graphic portraits, composed of copies of the copper engravings from the Gallery of Nesvyžius. The collection of family portraits was started by Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł the Orphan (1549–1616), who kept the portraits in his castle. Later the gallery was expanded with portraits from the collections of other members of the family. The Gallery of Nesvyžius was greatly expanded during the ruling of Voivode of Vilnius and Hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Michał Kazimierz Rybeńko Radziwiłł (1702–1762). The assembly of the album is attributed to him.
Images of the Family of Dukes Radvila (1758) by Martinus Franciscus WöbeLithuanian Art Fund
Radziwiłł family is one of the largest and most important in the history of Lithuania. If we look at the ducal Radziwiłł family of the Holy Roman Empire through the prism of personalities, we will find a queen, a cardinal, many ministers, and voivodes. The Radziwiłłs took interest in all fields: warfare, art, religion, and public activity. Many of them contributed to science and art.
Schema Consangvinitatis from the Images of the Family of Dukes Radvila. (1758) by Martinus Franciscus WöbeLithuanian Art Fund
The book is briefly illustrated by historical genealogical excerpts from authentic documents, derived from 1346 to 1758. "Schema Consangvinitatis" is reflected in the photo with the list of graphic portraits.
Repertorium familiarum from the Images of the Family of Dukes Radvila. (1758) by Martinus Franciscus WöbeLithuanian Art Fund
Repertorium familiarum from the Images of the Family of Dukes Radvila. (1758) by Martinus Franciscus WöbeLithuanian Art Fund
First pages from the Images of the Family of Dukes Radvila. (1758) by Martinus Franciscus WöbeLithuanian Art Fund
The author of the panegyric, a dedication to Michał Kazimierz Rybeńko Radziwiłł and text commentaries, is the Nesvyžiai Castle archivist Martynas Pranciškus Viobė. The copper engravings for the album were created by the court artist Herszek Leibowicz (1700–1770) and other court artists. The album contains the ex libris of Rybeńko Radziwiłł, which was created by Leibowicz. The cover is decorated with a super ex libris that probably belonged to the library of Castellan of Vilnius and Voivode Michał Hieronim Radziwiłł (1744–1831).
First pages from the Images of the Family of Dukes Radvila. (1758) by Martinus Franciscus WöbeLithuanian Art Fund
The album was printed in the Jesuit printing house of Nesvyžius with a print run of only 50 copies.
The book contains 165 portraits of the most important members of the Family of Dukes Radziwiłł. Several key personalities are shown in this story.
Barbara Radziwiłł, wife of the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund Augustus (1520–1551). (1758) by Martinus Franciscus WöbeLithuanian Art Fund
Barbara Radziwiłł was wife of the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund Augustus (1520–1551).
Barbara was the youngest child of Jerzy Radziwiłł, Voivode of Trakai and Vilnius and Great Lithuanian Hetman, and his wife Barbara Kolanka, daughter of Voivode of Podolia. Her exact birth date is unknown.
Barbara was famous for her beauty and she was interested in fashion and cosmetics. There are a lot of legends emphasizing her attractiveness and loveliness.
Barbara Radziwiłł fell in love with Sigismund Augustus son of Sigismund I the Old, Grand Duke of Lithuania. There are stories saying that Sigismund Augustus ordered the construction of a secret tunnel connecting the Royal Palace with the nearby Radziwiłł Palace so that the couple could meet frequently and discreetly.
Sometime in 1547, Sigismund Augustus and Barbara wed in secret. Barbara was crowned as Queen of Poland on 7 December 1550. Unfortunately, Barbara died on 8 May 1551.
Bishop of Samogitia Mikołaj Radziwiłł (~1496–1529). (1758) by Martinus Franciscus WöbeLithuanian Art Fund
Bishop of Samogitia Mikołaj Radziwiłł (~1496–1529).
He was son of Mikolaj Radziwiłł, a magnate and statesman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Samogitia or Žemaitija is one of the five ethnographic regions of Lithuania, located in northwestern Lithuania.
Duke of Biržai and Dubingiai, Grand Hetman of the Duchy of Lithuania, Chancellor, and Voivode Mikołaj Radziwiłł the Red (~1515–1584). (1758) by Martinus Franciscus WöbeLithuanian Art Fund
Duke of Biržai and Dubingiai, Grand Hetman of the Duchy of Lithuania, Chancellor, and Voivode Mikołaj Radziwiłł "the Red" (~1515–1584).
Mikołaj "the Red" was an active promoter of the Protestant religion. He founded several churches and schools, and also granted land to them. Later Mikolaj "the Red" inherited Biržai Castle and encouraged Reformation in Lithuania which origins may be traced to the town nearby.
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Biržai Castle was completed in 1589. During the Polish–Swedish wars in 1625, the castle was destroyed and surrendered. The Radziwiłł family regained the castle in 1626 and rebuilt it from 1662 to 1669 in the Renaissance style. In the following war with Sweden in 1704, the castle was destroyed along with its fortifications and was abandoned.
Duke of Nesvyžius and Olyka, Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vicegerent of Livonia, Voivode of Vilnius Mikołaj Radziwiłł the Black (1515–1565). (1758) by Martinus Franciscus WöbeLithuanian Art Fund
Duke of Nesvyžius and Olyka, Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vicegerent of Livonia, Voivode of Vilnius Mikołaj Radziwiłł the Black (1515–1565).
Mikołaj was able to gain a lot of political influence and was one of the most powerful royal advisers. He formed an alliance with his cousin Mikołaj "the Red" Radziwiłł against other notable Lithuanian families in the rivalry for the dominant status in the Great Duchy of Lithuania.
The growing influence of the Radziwiłł family was impacted also by the fact that, during a diplomatic mission to Charles V and Ferdinand I, Mikołaj "the Black" and Mikołaj "the Red" received a hereditary title of Prince.
Bishop of Vilnius, first Lithuanian Cardinal Jerzy Radziwiłł (1556–1600). (1758) by Martinus Franciscus WöbeLithuanian Art Fund
Bishop of Vilnius Jerzy Radziwiłł (1556–1600).
In 1583 he was elevated to be the first Lithuanian Cardinal by Pope Gregory XIII. In addition to that, Jerzy Radziwiłł established Vilnius Seminary and helped to obtain university status for the Jesuit Academy in Vilnius.
Grand Marshal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Voivode of Vilnius Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł the Orphan (1549–1616). (1758) by Martinus Franciscus WöbeLithuanian Art Fund
Grand Marshal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Voivode of Vilnius Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł the Orphan (1549–1616).
After the treaty at Vienna in 1515 all Radziwills were Imperial Princes and he held a position as Imperial Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.
Unlike many other members of Radziwiłł family he tried to stay away from politics. He became famous for his eventful pilgrimage trip to the Holy Land. During his voyage he visited not only Palestine, but also Syria, Egypt, Crete, Cyprus, Italy, and Greece.
Grand Hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Voivode of Vilnius Michał Kazimierz Rybeńko Radziwiłł (1702–1762). (1758) by Martinus Franciscus WöbeLithuanian Art Fund
Grand Hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Voivode of Vilnius Michał Kazimierz "Rybeńko" Radziwiłł (1702–1762).
First and foremost, it is very important to note that all 165 portraits / engravings of the Radziwiłł family (published in this unique book) were commissioned by Michał Kazimierz "Rybeńko".
Michał Kazimierz "Rybeńko" Radziwiłł was Ordynat of Niasviž and Olyka, owner of Biržai, Dubingiai, Slutsk, Kopyła and Shumsk.
In addition to that, Michał Kazimierz “Rybeńko” Radziwiłł and his wife, poetess and playwright Franciszka Urszula Radziwiłłowa significantly contributed to art and theatre.
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Niasviž Castle was a residential castle of the Radziwiłł family in Niasviž, Belarus. It is considered one of the most beautiful castles in this region.
Each member of the ducal Radziwiłł family has a separate and very intersting life story, which starts from a look at this portrait album.
