“Kindly have the grace to […] buy me twelve pairs of Saxon cups […] as long as they are beautiful […].” The Appreciation for Material Objects of Anna Ludwika Radziwiłł, née Mycielska, in Light of Ego-documents

Abstract

This article is dedicated to the reconstruction of the material world and the affinity for objects surrounding Anna Ludwika Radziwiłł, née Mycielska. The life of this fascinating woman long remained in the shadow of her predecessor—her aunt Franciszka Urszula of the Wiśniowiecki family (1705–1753), a poet and the creator of the Nieśwież Theater. An intriguing source offering valuable insights into the life of Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł "Rybeńko’s" second wife is her correspondence, preserved in the Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw. These letters not only reveal a world full of emotions but also provide a glimpse, to some extent, into the duchess’s surrounding reality—including its material aspects. Based on these sources, I demonstrate the relationship between the woman, Anna Ludwika, and her material world, as well as the influence of the latter on the duchess’s class belonging and object-collecting activities.