Józef Simmler's 'The Death of Barbara Radziwiłł' at National Museum in Warsaw
The National Museum in Warsaw holds Józef Simmler's 1860 painting 'The Death of Barbara Radziwiłł', considered his most important work. It depicts the death of Queen Barbara Radziwiłł, a Lithuanian noble who married King Sigismund II Augustus in 1547, causing scandal due to her low rank. The king fought his mother and parliament to have her crowned in 1550, but she died five months later. Simmler's historical painting captures the emotional moment of her death, with the king gazing tearfully at his dying wife. The work uses muted colors and sharp details to convey loss, with symbols like a closed Bible and smoking censer. It is a key example of 19th-century historical painting, blending epic history with human emotion.
Key facts
- Józef Simmler painted 'The Death of Barbara Radziwiłł' in 1860.
- The painting is held at the National Museum in Warsaw, Poland.
- It depicts the death of Queen Barbara Radziwiłł in 1551.
- Barbara Radziwiłł was a Lithuanian noble who married King Sigismund II Augustus in 1547.
- The marriage caused scandal because she was from the lowest rank of nobility.
- King Sigismund II Augustus fought his mother and parliament to have her crowned in 1550.
- Queen Barbara died five months after her coronation.
- The painting is a historical work from the 19th century, exploring love and loss.
Entities
Artists
- Józef Simmler
Institutions
- National Museum in Warsaw
Locations
- Warsaw
- Poland