JOSEF LESKI (1765-1825)

Sophia Glavani was born in Constantinople. Originally a Greek slave, she was acquired by the Russian general Joseph de Witt who made her his mistress, but shortly afterwards, he lost a considerable sum at cards when playing against the Polish count Stanislas Potocki who offered to waive the entire claim if the Russian General would pass on his lady to him. The terms were accepted and Count Stanislas promptly made her his second wife, despite the postulations of his friends, and they lived happily together for many years.
Another version of the present miniature, unsigned but attributed to W. Lesseur, is in the Polish Museum, Rapperswil, illustrated in Halina Kaminska-Krassowska's exhibition catalogue Miniaturen von Wincenty Lesseur und Waleria Tarnowska, Rapperswil/Warsaw, 1994, no. 90.