Spotlight | Marcello Bacciarelli

Welcome to Broadway Stages’ Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. During the month of October we celebrate Polish-American and Italian-American Heritages and National Arts & Humanities! In recognition of this triple celebration, we honor an artist who has a foot in both the Polish and Italian cultures, Marcello Bacciarelli.

Painter Marcello Bacciarelli was born and trained in Italy but found early artistic acclaim with the Polish royal court. At the recommendation of architect Gaetano Chiaveri, the Polish King, Augustus III, appointed Bacciarelli as a court painter in the early 1750s.

The young Polish monarch was well educated in the arts and demanded a standard of excellence. These were qualities the painter and king shared. Because of this, Bacciarelli quickly gained the king’s trust, respect, and even friendship. With this respect came a high demand. He was soon the favored portrait painter for both Austrian and Polish aristocratic courts. 

A significant commission of his was a series of portraits of nearly all the Polish kings. The series spanned from his patron to the last king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Stanisław II Augustus, back to Bolesław I the Brave, the first Polish king.

King Stanislaw August Poniatowski - portrait painted by bacciarelli

Bacciarelli was entrusted with all important artistic tasks, including the foundation of the first Polish painting school, Malarnia. He was also named director of the royal buildings and estates.

The artist also decorated the interiors of the royal palaces and was responsible for creating a gallery of paintings. These works often illustrated the history of Poland. Many examples of his work can still be seen throughout the Royal Castle in Warsaw.

Bacciarelli remained committed to painting until shortly before his death on January 5, 1818. To ensure his legacy, he nurtured future artistic talent in his studio. Among his studio participants were Polish painter and illustrator Kazimierz Wojniakowski and portrait painter Alexander Kucharski (or Kucharsky). Kucharski’s works channeled Bacciarelli’s artistic approach into his own style.

His dedication to his craft and loyalty to his patron are reflected today in the neighborhoods of New York. Italian-Americans and Polish-Americans alike can count this master as one of their own. You can view some of his work HERE.