Ludwik Marteau

[1] It is not known exactly when he arrived in Poland, but it appears that his teacher, Maurice Quentin de La Tour made the recommendation to go and Silvestre arranged for his position there.

[2] In 1752, on the way, he spent some time at the court of Jan Klemens Branicki in Białystok, where he painted portraits of the hetman's family.

[3] From 1780-1783, he gave lessons to Anna Rajecka, a favorite of King Stanisław August Poniatowski, who was meant to become a court painter, but spent most of her life in Paris.

Later, her husband, Pierre-Marie Gault de Saint-Germain, would give Marteau a prominent place in his history of French painting.

[2] According to the art historian, Edward Rastawiecki, Marteau was a bit of a fop and always dressed in French style, even sporting short pants and white stockings in the middle of winter, and refusing to attend the fanciest affair if there was too much mud or snow on the streets.