Władysław IV – principe italiano? Teatr i balet w polityce dworu polskiego
(1624–1638)
LADISLAS IV – PRINCIPE ITALIANO?
THEATRE AND BALLET IN THE POLITICS OF THE POLISH COURT (1624–1638)
Author(s): Lorena VallieriSubject(s): Theatre, Dance, Performing Arts, Modern Age
Published by: Arx Regia® Wydawnictwo Zamku Królewskiego w Warszawie – Muzeum
Keywords: Ladislas IV Vasa; Cecilia Renata of Austria; Virgilio Puccitelli; court theatre; ballet de cour; Italian cultural influences; cultural diplomacy
Summary/Abstract: The article examines Ladislas IV Vasa’s use of court ballet and theatre as instruments of dynastic and diplomatic policy. Continuing the cultural programme initiated by his father, the King promoted Italian performing arts at the Polish court, employing Italian musicians, architects, and stage designers. The study discusses the modernization of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the construction of a permanent court theatre, and major spectacles, particularly Virgilio Puccitelli’s La Santa Cecilia, staged for the King’s marriage to Cecilia Renata of Austria. These initiatives are interpreted in the context of Habsburg alliances and the Counter-Reformation, showing how court performances strengthened dynastic legitimacy, cultural ties with Italy and the Holy Roman Empire, and Poland’s image as a major Catholic power.
Journal: Kronika Zamkowa. Roczniki
- Issue Year: 78/2025
- Issue No: 12
- Page Range: 125-154
- Page Count: 30
- Language: Polish
