The Sobieskis and Stuarts – the Splendour and Spectre of the Crown - Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanów

The exhibition The Sobieskis and Stuarts – the Splendour and Spectre of the Crown is the first in Poland to trace a common thread in the modern history of two distant countries: the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland. It has its origin in the marriage in 1719 between Maria Clementina Sobieska (known as Clementina), the granddaughter of King Jan III, and James III/VIII of the royal House of Stuart, claimant to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Motivated politically and financially, the marriage brought together two people of different nationalities, raised in different cultures. However, they shared the experience of a life begun within the splendour of the crown, but which became increasingly distant as the years passed. Clementina’s father, Jakub Sobieski, lost the struggle for the throne of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the election after the death of King Jan III. James’ father, the Catholic King James II/VII, lost his thrones after the so-called ‘Glorious Revolution’ of 1688.

After their marriage, Clementina and James settled in Rome, where they were regarded as the rightful sovereigns of England, Scotland, and Ireland. However, the burden of the Stuart Cause and their efforts to regain power in the three kingdoms cast a shadow over their lives and the fate of their sons, Charles Edward and Henry Benedict.

In tracing the story of its main characters, this exhibition illustrates intricate dynastic relationships, the lives of individuals in the face of high politics, and of the art that became a political tool, yet which retains its high, timeless aesthetic value.
In particular, Clementina’s life demonstrates the often-impossible situation of women from royal families, of whom so much, and so much sacrifice, was expected in the role which fate imposed upon them.

Exhibition date:

October 25, 2025 – May 31, 2026

Opening hours:

Tuesday: 10.00–16.00
Wednesday: 10.00–16.00
Thursday: 10.00–16.00
Friday: 10.00–16.00
Saturday: 10.00–16.00
Sunday: 10.00–16.00
Monday: 10.00–16.00

Tickets:

Included in the palace admission ticket

Venue:

the Palace, north wing

check location

Exhibition curators:

Marta Gołąbek PhD, Alicja Łoboda, Agnieszka Pawlak, Michał Witkowski

Additional information:

Consultants to the exhibition are Professor Edward Corp and Peter Pininski

Explore:

The Royal Families of Sobieski and Stuart

Works on display

Magnificent works of art from a private collection – portraits, engravings, and objects that once belonged to a royal couple. Among them, one stands out – the prayer book of Mary, Queen of Scots, featuring a inscription written in her own hand. Soon, you’ll be able to see it all with your own eyes.

Discover!

Exceptional Works of Art in the Sobieski and Stuart Exhibtion

Clementina Sobieska-Stuart

Who was the granddaughter of King John III and Marie Casimire?

Sobieski’s Salute

– a Traditional Scottish Musical Piece

Press materials

Press materials and images for download

Press release

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Banner EN

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The Sobieskis and Stuarts – the Splendour and Spectre of the Crown

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Directors:
Paweł Jaskanis, Magdalena Całka, Piotr Górajec, Dorota Folga-Januszewska

Curators:
dr Marta Gołąbek, Alicja Łoboda, Agnieszka Pawlak, Michał Witkowski

Consultants to the exhibition:
prof. Edward Corp, Piotr Piniński

Selection of musical pieces presented at the exhibition:
dr Aneta Markuszewska

Authors of the texts:
prof. Edward Corp, dr Marta Gołąbek, Elżbieta Grygiel, dr Ewa Korpysz, dr Aneta Markuszewska, Małgorzata Myślicka, Piotr Piniński, Michał Witkowski

Exhibition website:
Marcin Wielgo

Exhibition design and visual identification:
ONTO Studio: Kaja Nosal i dr Anna Wręga

COOPERATION:
Conservation and Prevention Department:
Ireneusz Bazelak, Katarzyna Braun, Joanna Dziduch, dr Anna Guzowska, Tomasz Majcherek, Witold Michałowski, Marya Nawrocka-Mierzwa, Roman Orłowski, Magdalena Pasternak-Zabielska, Renata Pieniek, Irma Fuks-Rembisz, Michał Rogoziński, Szymon Wawrzonkiewicz

Museum Education Department:
Ewa Behrens-Nowakowska, Marta Grzymkowska-Ciechańska, Nela Kokoszka, Dobrawa Kowalska, Katarzyna Pietrzak, Paulina Szulist-Płuciniczak

Social Communication Department:
Elżbieta Grygiel, Katarzyna Kowalska, Marcin Wielgo

Historical Reenactment and Sales Department:
Anastazja Bierzgalska, Marcin Chmieliński, Maria Gintrowska, Monika Krajewska, Norbert Sokołowski, Rafał Wach

Audience Service Department:
Mateusz Piskozub, Dominika Pliszka, Elżbieta Podgórska oraz osoby nadzorujące ekspozycję

Head Registrar:
Karolina Alkemade, dr Piotr Czerkwiński, Ewa Kulik

Economic and Financial Department:
Katarzyna Choińska, Agnieszka Jastrzębska, Marzena Kamińska, Elżbieta Kuik-Sobiech, Waldemar Nowak, Beata Ruszkarska, Anna Elżbieta Zaborska

Documentation and Digitalization Department:
Łukasz Brutkowski, Agnieszka Indyk, Bartosz Hamera, Ewa Jakubowska-Smagieł, Anna Karwowska-Konopa, Jarosław Kulpiński, Martyna Miroszewska, Ewa Mostowicz-Kapciak, Zbigniew Reszka, Krzysztof Sirko, Bartłomiej Stasiak

Labour Resources Department:
Marta Malesa, Małgorzata Ordakowska, Ewa Pisarewicz

Administration Department:
Hubert Fijołek, Iwona Łopaciuk, Renata Mazur, Kamila Misiejuk, Anna Ostrowska, Agnieszka Szewczyk, Monika Tyc

Architecture and Environment Department:
Maciej Bałaż, Paweł Baranowski, Adam Cejmer, Krzysztof Grzywacz, Paweł Kot, Pavlo Khomiakov

Accessibility:
Fundacja Wielozmysły: Natalia Szemis, Iwo Kondefer, Monika Matusiak-Kondefer, Adrianna Lau, Kamila Albin; Katarzyna Kociukiewicz; Magdalena Karpowicz MJK Krawiectwo Artystyczne; Dostępni.eu: Konrad Kozłowski, Franciszek Krogulski; Aleksandra Sztajerwald, Marta Walewska

Design of the coats of arms included in the ‘Family Connections’:
prof. Barbara Widłak

Translations:
dr Antoni Górny, dr Aneta Markuszewska, zespół Muzeum

Exhibition production:
Perfect Events, Design Your Wall, Eidotech, LightWorks, Custom Cube

Security is provided by the Palace Guard

Special thanks to:
dr Ewa Anna Augustynowicz, Paula Blando, prof. Francesca de Caprio, dr Francesca Ceci, Leszek Cepiel (Akwinata), Damian Dudek, prof. Robert Frost, Anna Justyna Gołąbek-Asikainen, Anna Kowalewska, Maria Teresa Lambiase Bellizia, prof. Chiara Mazzocchi, Konrad Pyzel, Michał Ratajczyk, prof. Aleksandra Skrzypietz, Krzysztof Śmich, Łucja Nowak-Wróblewska

The Overture (Symphony) from Leonardo Vinci’s Gismondo, re di Polonia is played in the space opening the exhibition.
Performers: {oh!} Historical Orchestra conducted by Martyna Pastuszka

The flower composition was arranged by:
Kamila Domańska, Rafał Myszkowski, Izabela Orzeł / Garden Department

The reconstruction of Clementina’s gown, based on the portrait by William Mosman (1733):
Elżbieta Dunin-Wąsowicz / Historical Reenactment and Sales Department

The works of art presented at the exhibition come from private collections and from:
Muzeum Archidiecezji Warszawskiej, Muzeum Narodowego w Kielcach, Muzeum Narodowego w Warszawie, Rzymskokatolickiej Parafii Katedralnej pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela we Wrocławiu, Zamku Królewskiego w Warszawie-Muzeum Rezydencji Królów i Rzeczypospolitej

The exhibition was made possible thanks to financial support from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

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