Zygmunt Krasiński w korespondencji i pracach plastycznych Cypriana Norwida

Abstract

Zygmunt Krasiński belongs to a group of the nineteenth-century writers whose personalities, lives, views and literary accomplishments made a profound mark on the epistolography of the epoch. Cyprian Norwid's correspondence provides some valuable evidence on this point. Unfortunately, almost none of Norwid's letters to Krasiński survived (they were probably destroyed by the author of Non-Divine Comedy himself after Norwid had returned them to him). That lack makes Cyprian Norwid's opinions of Zygmunt Krasiński and his works reconstructable only on the basis of the letters sent to other addressees. Norwid mentions the author of Iridion in his correspondence on numerous occasions; the references and reflections relate to Krasiński himself, his life, his family (especially his father) and his friends, as well as his views (historiosophical, political, aesthetic, literary, etc.) and, most importantly, to his works. Norwid also creat ed at least six portraits of the "third bard" (including the two which are missing today): five drawings and one medallion. There is no doubt that among the vast circle of social connections of Krasiński which included other great personalities of the epoch of romanticism his relationship with Norwid was one of the most troubled, most complicated and painful ones (their acquaintanceship was broken by several years of bilateral silence). Nevertheless, it is worth appreciating Norwid's epistolary narrative of Krasiński for its depth, acuity, au thenticity, lack of stylization or idolatry which would have falsified the image. Despite the anguish and lack of understanding which are inscribed in Norwid’s letters, they remain a fascinating testimony of a relationship between truly brilliant, gifted and frag ile people and a reflection of the not always easy – as it turns out – master-pupil rela tionship.