The aim of the article is to collect and systematize the state of research on the life and work of Krzysztof Piekarski. The literary work of that 17th-century author, including Polish translations of Italian comedy dialogues and religious texts, so far has become an object of interest of only a few scholars. Cnoty cel nie ów, do którego zmierza Machiawell i inni w akademijej onegoż promowani politycy, based on a political treaty by a Spanish Jesuit Pedro de Ribandeira Tratado de la religion (Piekarski had used a Latin translation by a Jesuit Johannes Oranus) is regarded to be one of his most interesting translations. Researchers like Roman Pollak, Jadwiga Rytel and Henryk Barycz have made a preliminary diagnosis of the relations between the Spanish original and its translations into Latin and then Polish; they discussed its contents, considered the political factors which could have contributed to the popularity of the work in the First Polish Republic. They have also asked a series of questions which are still waiting to be answered. Their findings reveal a talented and active 17th-century writer, though still little known to literature historians, and allow to establish what is known about him and identify further research perspectives.