Father Casimir Wyszynski

Albertoni. 235 Father Casimir supplied himwith a copy of the orig- inal portrait of Father Papczynski 236 so that Antonio could recre- ate the Marian Founder’s likeness in the last years of his life. However, the artist, who was young and prone to vanity, cared nothing about keeping the similarity to the original and painted Father Stanislaus as a well-groomed, corpulent young man with sharp eyes and red face, completely devoid of all appearances of humility and holiness. It was pointed out to the artist that the por- trait he produced bore no resemblance to the image of Father Stanislaus—an elderly person, emaciated by mortification, com- mitted to contemplation, immersed in thoughts about eternity, gentle in looks and gestures, and detached from earthly things. Therefore, the artist was asked to amend hiswork for it had noth- ing in common with the original. But the painter, who claimed that the presentation of a handsome and portly person re- sponded better to the requirements of the arts than that of some- one thin and worn out by penance, refused to alter the painting regardless of the opinions of many priests, religious, and other people. Father Wyszyński personally begged Antonio several times to alter the image, but the latter refused because he be- lieved it shameful to alter his own work. Consequent to his obstinacy, the painter became ill and fell into some sort of madness. Hoping to get better, he consulted many doctors and used various medicines, all to no avail. His ill- ness continued for several months until he realized that his suf- feringwas a punishment for refusing to paint Father Papczyński’s portrait in accordwith his true likeness. After surviving some un- pleasant experiences, he finally agreed to alter the painting. How- 235 Antonio Albertoni was a talented painter. He was born ca 1730, son of Francis, an Italian residing in Warsaw. Antonio was sent by his father to Rome, to study painting. Upon his return to Poland, he became one of the court painters ( pictor regius ) of King Stanislaus Augustus. He died in 1795. Cf. Beatificationis et Canonisationis Servi Dei Stanislai a I su Maria Papczyński, Positio , Romae 1977, 715-1716, footnotes 253, 255 (afterwards: Posi- tioPap ). 236 This original portrait of Fr. Papczyński is the image presently located in the Marianmonastery inSkórzec; in1998, this imageunderwent a careful restoration. We have no information as to thewhereabouts of the copy, which Fr. Wyszyński brought with him to Rome. 166 T ADEUSZ R OGALEWSKI , MIC, P H D