3-068-877 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Portrait of Zyzemski, c1675. Additional Info: The portrait, made in dark colours, depicts a greying bearded man with a distinctive hairstyle, cut around the head in an even line. The model holds the right hand on the belt with a characteristic gesture, known from many portraits of noblemen. Slightly above his head, on the right side of the canvas, there is an escutcheon, with a lion standing on its hind legs in the blue-black section with stars. It is a symbol of the Knyaz Zyzemski family (sometimes the name appears as Zyzemski), who lived in Minsk Region in the 17th century. We do not know who this man was. Letters on the sides of the coat of arms-I.Z.-are indeed the initials, so the name of the portrayed began with I or J. It is unknown what the second pair of letters (AP) means, perhaps they point to a family estate. The inscription below tells us that the Zyzemski of unknown name died at the age of 59, on 16 January 1675. Tomasz Zaucha