Znaczenie listu w malarstwie XVII i XVIII wieku oraz w ówczesnej powieści epistolarnej

The aim of this paper is to analyse and interpret the importance of the letter in the 18th century epistolary novel and the 17th and 18th century painting. The article presents properties and functions of the letter that made it attractive to the literature and painting of that time. The focus is also on social and cultural context relevant to the discussed matter. Furthermore, the paper examines the form and content of the novel and painting in question, including the specific ways and consequences of the employment of the letter by these disciplines. Finally, the problem of illusionism is considered.