Mieszczańskie cnoty magnatów -­ gospodarność, oszczędność, skąpstwo. Refleksje nieco przewrotne

Abstract

The author presents the issue of a lavish and luxurious lifestyle as an attribute of the magnates' identity in the 17th and 18th centuries. Moralist writers of that time, who were folIowed by the historians of the 19th and 20th centurie s, created a suggestive image of a magnate who was carelessly squandering the fruits of his subjects' hard labour. Meanwhile, against this stereotype, the correspondence of the representatives of the most powerful families in the Commonwealth (the Branicki, Potocki, Radziwiłł, and Sobieski) confirms their concern for the state of their property, increase in revenues (both financial and in kind) and moderate expenditure. The author presents in more detail three selected elements of the magnates' lifestyle: 1. residence refinement (dwellings and mansions), 2. public appearance (retinues accompanying magnates at their ceremonious entries to the Sejm, Regional Council sessions, tribunaIs, and elections), and 3. feast culture. One can notice an apparent trend to save on expenditure. With regard to building construction, more expensive stones or bricks were replaced by cheaper timber; joinery (e.g. doors) from the old palace was installed in a new one; magnates fiercely bargained salaries of artists, craftsmen and workers. With regard to outfits worn by the magnate retinue courtiers, servants and soldiers, expensive doth was replaced, for example, with cheaper linen of the same colour. When it came to food, magnates endeavoured to supply pantry and cellars with local products, preferably from their own estate. With regard to imported goods, they made sure the lowest possible price was obtained. Wine was dispensed frugally. The best was sometimes skimped even to the dosest family. Demonstrating wealth and luxury of their palaces on the one hand, magnates scrupulously controlled their expenditure to avoid mindless waste of money.