3-068-850 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Portrait of Józef Wandalin Mniszch (1670-1747), Grand Marshal of the Crown from 1713, Lithuanian Court Marshal from 1706, Castellan of Kraków from 1742, General of the Lithuanian Artillery from 1701-1706, Starost of Sanok from 1691 to 1729, 2nd half of 18th century. Additional Info: Józef Vandalin Mniszech first held the office of the Court Marshal of Lithuania, then, from 1713 until resignation in 1742 (that is, for almost three decades), he was the Grand Marshal of the Crown. He is depicted on the portrait with the insignia of his office-a long staff of dark wood decorated with gilded fittings. This (unlike the Court Marshal) was a state office, it was a kind of minister serving the king, guarding the order wherever the ruler stayed (in the 18th century primarily in Warsaw), maintaining the etiquette, chairing the senate sessions, and even, though rarely, censoring publications. The marshal watched over the king's safety using the armed units of the marshal's guard and the royal guard.