Twardowski's Mirror

Twardowski's Mirror, associated with the legends of Węgrów, is a unique object with a rich history. According to tales, Napoleon Bonaparte, during his expedition to Russia in 1812, camped in Węgrów and heard about a mirror that was said to show the future. Looking into it, he saw the defeat of his army and, in a fury, struck it, leaving permanent marks. Another legend speaks of King Sigismund Augustus, who, with the help of the magician Twardowski, attempted to summon the spirit of his deceased wife, Barbara Radziwiłł. When the king broke the prohibition and rose from his chair, the apparition vanished, and the mirror cracked. Additionally, local stories tell of a priest who, upon seeing the devil in the mirror, threw keys at the object, causing further damage. The mirror, made of white metal, is cracked into three parts, has become tarnished, and measures 56 x 46.5 cm. It is set in a black wooden frame with a Latin inscription referring to Twardowski and his magical arts. The object, kept in the sacristy of the parish church in Węgrów, has its origins in the 16th century and is attributed to connections with alchemical practices. An interesting hypothesis by Pantaleimon Yuriev suggests that there may be images of a woman and a devil on the mirror's surface, invisible to the naked eye, which reveal themselves under strong light. Twardowski's Mirror, as a relic of the parish church's architectural composition and the regional cultural context, is a significant element of Polish heritage associated with legends and mysticism.