Portrait of Stefan Potocki

Stefan Potocki of Pilawa coat of arms was a carver (krajczy), Crown Referendary, a voivode of Masovian Voivodeship, Court Marshal, an elder of Lviv, and Colonel of the Armoured Cavalry. He was a father of Mikolaj Potocki, the elder of Kaniv. Since the second half of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, a great number of representative portraits of magnates and noblemen have been preserved. Some of them were made following the local portrait tradition, while others were in line with the Western European ceremonial portraiture. Stefan Potocki is depicted in full length in a solemn pose dressed in knightly armor, on top of which there is a red cape lined with fur. On the belt, there is a sword, which symbolizes the determination of the person portrayed to defend his homeland. The image is characterized by monumentality. At the top of the painting there is an inscription: "Stefan z Potoka na Czortkowie Polonny i Macieiowicach Potocki nayprzod krayczy potem Referendarz koronny Pomorski i Mazowiecki woiewoda marszalek nadworny koronny, Lwowski i Trembowelski starosta. Polkownik pancerny".

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery