Józef Simmler
In a dimly lit bedchamber, a dying woman lies on a bed illuminated by a single ray of light. A man sits at her side, his presence solemn and contemplative. The painting shows the tragic story of the Polish king Sigismund II Augustus of the House of Jagiellon and his wife, Barbara Radziwiłł, who passed away in 1551.
The ill-fated love between Sigismund and Barbara quickly became the stuff of legend, inspiring artists for centuries. Queen Bona Sforza, Sigismund's mother fiercely opposed to their union, was widely suspected of poisoning Barbara. The scandal erupted in 1547 when Sigismund secretly married Barbara—an alliance seen as a direct challenge to the Polish raison d’État. Though she hailed from one of Lithuania’s most powerful noble families, Barbara was not of royal blood, making the match politically controversial. Only after a long and bitter struggle against his mother and the Parliament did Sigismund finally secure Barbara’s coronation in 1550.
The composition is simple yet meticulously detailed. The artist’s technical mastery is evident in elements such as the delicate lace trim on the queen’s pillow, the rich embroidery of the king’s robe, and the censer placed beside the bed. These details, immediately praised by contemporary audiences, contributed to the painting’s success. The fusion of a romantic, historical subject with Simmler’s refined technique made the work a triumph among the art critics.