Portrait of the Sons

My eldest son is one of those beings who are difficult to describe accurately, though easy to recognize. This is because every circumstance, every era, continuously presents him in a new light—always positive, always surprising, always exceeding what is expected of him. His soul, his sensitive heart, his character, and his principles are always in harmony. He always seeks good and constantly strives for it. His soul desires that good, his sensitivity imagines it, and his heart brings it to life. His self-love is limited to ensuring that good is accomplished—no matter by whom or how. He works at this incessantly, with the courage of the soul—the only kind that truly matters day to day, surpassing both the daring that rushes into danger and the thoughtless enthusiasm that lacks perseverance.

His firm and honest character ensures that he follows the path he has set for himself, and neither the adversities of fate, misfortunes, nor offensive or slanderous opinions have ever diverted him from the goal he considers sacred. His motto and rallying cry is: “May I contribute to good.” I believe my son is handsome—and I think I am right, for he generally pleases people.

He possesses much intelligence and knowledge. He is remarkably original. He has no shyness that restrains him, but he has the humility that wins people over. Among those he loves, he is cheerful and kind. He has a heart as it should be—and such it truly is. He is a son who is hard to find, a tender brother, an excellent friend. Were I to omit mention of any faults, this portrait might seem overly flattering; I must therefore admit that he can be lazy when he permits himself, though he neglects nothing—and he can be absent-minded when something important occupies his thoughts.

Konstanty, my second son, is exactly the kind of person I would have asked God for if it had depended on me. Honest, loyal, full of courage and humanity—he has made me proud through his valor and brilliant participation in the 1812 campaign.

His natural, gentle, and calm mind would make him appreciated in society, if he were not too lazy to make the effort to achieve success there. For me, for his brother, and for his sisters—he would do anything for our happiness.

He loves our sex and will always love it, because his heart and reason are in agreement on this matter.

His endearing talents and original ideas bring joy to our domestic life whenever we indulge them. He has a pleasant face, sometimes said to resemble mine—and anyone can notice that. But for me, what matters most is that his delicate and selfless soul, his heart full of sensitivity, and the quiet nobility felt even in the smallest matters, make my dear Konstanty extremely valuable to the entire family.

Black and white are the smile of our happy days. This is how the two brothers differ: the elder is dark-haired, and the younger is light golden blond.

Historical context:

Some online sources suggest that Konstanty Adam Czartoryski’s biological father may have been Armand Louis de Gontaut, Duke of Lauzun, rather than his legal father—Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski. However, there is no confirmation of this in scholarly literature or primary documents.

And what was the truth? What details about her son’s parentage did Izabela conceal in her memoirs? Soon, we will lift the veil on this secret.