Giuliana Pubblicola Santacroce (after 1746–1814), came from the Florentine Falconieri family; in 1767 she married Prince Antonio Pubblicola Santacroce. In 1790 the Primate—and King Stanisław August’s brother—Michał
Poniatowski travelled to Rome and met her through Cardinal François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis, the French ambassador to Rome, with whom Giuliana had a liaison which lasted for many years.Through the intermediary
of Poniatowski, the Princess’ brother, Lelio Falconieri, was awarded the Order of the White Eagle a year later, on 3 May 1791, by Stanisław August. The portrait by Angelika Kauffmann was an expression of gratitude
for the Polish king’s gesture. Princess Santacroce is depicted as the virtuous Roman Lucretia, who unable to bear shame, chose to die by her own hand. A somewhat unusual and intriguing detail in this conventional
portrayal is the hazy outline of a mysterious hand which seizes the Princess’ right hand in which she is holding a dagger. In an emphatic letter to Giuliana Santacroce dated 21 March 1782 Stanislaw August wrote:
‘Quand j’ai appercu sur le tableau cette main aérienne, qui paroit vouloir retenir le bras armé du poignard, j’ai cru sentir que la mienne se portait vouloir d’elle même à faire la même chose…’
百度翻译：http://fanyi.baidu.com
