Maria Wodzińska

Maria Wodzińska (1819–1896) was Chopin’s unofficial fiancée in 1836-1838. She also features in the lyrical works of Juliusz Słowacki.

The Chopin and Wodziński families became acquainted when two of Maria’s brothers boarded with Mikołaj Chopin. After he had left Poland, Chopin met the Wodzińskis in Dresden in 1835 and a year later in Marienbad [now Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic], where he proposed to the 17-year-old Maria and became (secretly) engaged. The two corresponded, although they never met again, despite their desire to do so. Wodzińska’s parents strongly disapproved of the engagement and it was broken off under the pretext of Chopin’s poor health. Wodzińska subsequently married Count Józef (son of Fryderyk) Skarbek. After they divorced, she married Władysław Orpiszewski.

Chopin dedicated his Waltz in A flat major, Op. 69, No. 1 (L’Adieu) to Wodzińska. For her part, Wodzińska painted what is considered to be the best likeness of the composer.