Vincenzo Brenna

Despite numerous designs commissioned by Stanisław August which to this day remain in the portfolios of the Print Room, the king—unlike many less distinguished characters—never got a monument; neither in his lifetime, nor later. During his reign the nobility, reluctant towards the ruler, would not allow a monument to be erected, and after Stanisław August’s death the discussion about a commemorative statue was dominated by his critics. Therefore, for 200 years the issue of the tribute to the last king of the Polish Commonwealth remained unresolved. Temporary monuments made of wood, plaster, paper and fabrics—occasional makeshift architecture—were the only tributes to the last monarch of Poland, reformer and patron of arts.