Elżbieta Jeżewska (Kielce) Images of Stanislaw Staszic in Art Stanisław Wawrzyniec Staszic (November 6, 1755, Piła – January 20, 1826, Warsaw), a Catholic priest, is one of historical scholars as well as politicians and social and cultural activists who are commemorated all over Poland; however in some regions of the country – Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship among them – he is honored in a particular way as he contributed to their scientific, educational and economic development. Staszic supported progressive Constitution of May 3, 1791. In 1800 he became a member of the Warsaw Society of the Friends of Science (of which he became the president in 1808); later he co-founded University of Warsaw, Hrubieszów Agricultural Society and Mining Academy in Kielce. He served as a member of the State Council of the Duchy of Warsaw and the Kingdom of Poland, contributing to the national existence based on the domestic natural resources on the basis of geological research conducted e.g. in the area of Świętokrzyskie Mountains. He was decorated with the Order of the White Eagle and the Order of Saint Stanislaus. His publications were discussed by W. Hahn, Cz. Leśniewski, B. Szacka, and others. Thanks to Staszic the headquarters of the Warsaw Society of the Friends of Science were created, as well as the Monument of Work in Warsaw and Terespol, Monument of Polish-Lithuanian Union in Lublin, with the cast-iron plate by Aleksander Ironworks in Białogon near Kielce, now Kielce-Białogon (the test plate preserved: Kielce, Rynek 3/5), and Nicolaus Copernicus Monument in Warsaw. Museums in Piła and Hrubieszów, companies and various associations bear his name. In portraits from the 20s of the ninetieth century and later Staszic was portrayed as a scholar or a statesman in various artistic techniques. Among his famous images there are sculptures by P. Maliński A. Frejtag, L. Kucharzewski and C. Godebski – used to decorate Warsaw tenement buildings; metal casts: by Minter Factory made according to the model by J. Tatarkiewicz (+1854) and in cooperation of Aleksander Ironworks – since 1856 (the oldest item) on Staszic’s grave in Bielany near Warsaw: with motif of the Order, according to the model attributed to William Kimens (Englishman, in Poland: 1839-1879), to whom Cz. Makowski referred in 1919. Białogon bust replicas have been placed in Oblęgorek, Kielce, Warsaw, Częstochowa, and new ones are still being placed. In painting of the 19th century Staszic was presented by R. Hadziewicz (a painting at T. Zieliński in Kielce), J.K. Gładysz, J.T. Polkowski; in graphic drawings of the 19 and 20th centuries – many authors. In Kielce Staszic is presented on plaques: on the former building of Mining Academy and the former elementary school (8 Sienkiewicza), and in the city park: the bust made of white marble in 1908 and put in place of Białogon bust of 1906, now in the local National Museum as well as graphic drawings, plaques and medals, coin of 1992 and prints.