Around the Set of Early-Modern Miniatures Painted on Parchment Donated by Konstanty Schmidt-Ciążyński in the Collection of the National Muzeum in Kraków

Abstract

In 1885, Konstanty Schmidt-Ciążyński donated 14 miniature paintings on parchment to the National Museum in Kraków (M[uzem] N[arodowe] K[raków]). Despite many obvious differences, all of them were previously attributed to one artist, Willem van Bemmel. During their conservation treatment, a search for arguments that would confirm or deny the technical relationship of the miniatures was undertaken. The technological aspects, stylistic features and nature of the age-related damage were analysed. Non-destructive examination of paint layers, microscopic analysis, and technical photography using various types of radiation sources was carried out. This paper presents a summary of the abovementioned research results and an attempt to put forward various hypotheses related to the history of these objects. In some cases, it was possible to make analogies and find iconographic references. In a few objects, stylistic and workshop features indicate shared authorship.