Stanisław Antoni Szczuka, of Grabie coat of arms (1652 or 1654-1710)


Marshal of the extraordinary Seym in Warsaw 17 XI 1688-1 IV 1689 and the pacification Seym in Warsaw 16-30 VI 1699


Referendary of the Crown from 1688, Envoy of the Commonwealth in Prussia in 1690, Grand Vice-Chancellor of Lithuania from 1699.


He came from a middle-gentry family and it was only due to his talents and diligence that he acquired top public offices. He began career as a secretary to King Jan Sobieski. After 1696 he became an adviser to August II . In 1706 he went over to Stanisław Leszczyński's side. A political writer - apart from Seym speeches he published deliberations about the Commonwealth 'Eclipsis Poloniae Orbi Publico Demonstrata'(1709), where he presented the projects of treasury reforms ( restitution of royal lands), army reforms and also postulated establishing a network of free state schools.


Portrait of Stanisław Antoni Szczuka, 17th c.

undefined Polish painter
oil canvas; 201cm x 123cm
The National Museum in Warsaw, Wilanów Branch (cat. no 1234 Wil.)