Suwałki
Suwałki – a space commemorating the Wierusz-Kowalski family
The Regional Museum in Suwałki plays a special role in preserving the legacy of the Wierusz-Kowalski family. Thanks to the long-standing efforts of its staff, the museum has amassed the largest collection of paintings, sketches, photographs, documents and memorabilia relating to the Wierusz-Kowalski family, and in particular to Alfred Wierusz-Kowalski. It was he who was born in Suwałki, spent part of his youth there, and, above all, drew inspiration for his work from the landscapes of the Suwałki region and its surroundings, which had a profound influence on his artistic sensibility. The collection also includes the furnishings of his Munich studio, comprising, amongst other things, easels, furniture, a painter’s palette and items used whilst working.
The museum’s collection is expanding not only through the institution’s own efforts, but also through regular donations from private individuals, families of heirs, and cultural institutions and companies, which donate paintings, documents and memorabilia related to the artist’s work to the museum. An example of such a donation is the painting ‘Evening Sled’, one of the most valuable exhibits in the museum’s collection, which is also one of the most characteristic works of Wierusz-Kowalski’s winter paintings, depicting a dynamic scene of a sleigh journey through a winter landscape. In the museum’s announcement, it was emphasised that this is one of the most valuable donations in the institution’s history, ranked amongst the works of the highest artistic calibre in the painter’s oeuvre and created during the peak of his creative powers in the 1880s.
Another example of the expansion of the artist’s collection is a further painting by Alfred Wierusz-Kowalski, presented in 2019, depicting one of his daughters. As curator Eliza Ptaszyńska points out, this is most likely Michalina, although according to some accounts it could also be Janina, as the sisters bore a strong resemblance to one another. The painting shows a figure sitting in the park in Mikorzyn – one of the artist’s favourite places – and is an important addition to the documentation of the Wierusz-Kowalski family and Alfred’s later work.
Another key element of the commemorative activities was the issue of a 20-złoty coin dedicated to Alfred Wierusz-Kowalski. A ceremonial presentation of the coin took place at the Regional Museum in Suwałki. The event was attended by representatives of the Suwałki city council, the Museum and the National Bank of Poland.
The creation of this unique collection was initiated by the museum’s long-serving director, Zygmunt Filipowicz, who established close ties with the painter’s family and, over many years, consistently sought to acquire his works and family mementoes. Thanks to his efforts, the artist’s hometown has become the most important centre for documenting his life and work. The work begun by Zygmunt Filipowicz was continued by Eliza Ptaszyńska – an art historian, long-standing curator of the Regional Museum in Suwałki and author of numerous publications devoted to Alfred, Czesław, Karol and Joanna Wierusz-Kowalski. Jerzy Brzozowski, the museum’s director, oversees the activities of the Regional Museum in Suwałki.
As well as expanding its knowledge and collection, the Regional Museum in Suwałki also carries out conservation and research work relating to Alfred’s oeuvre. As part of a research project launched to investigate the techniques used in his paintings, a team of specialists from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń is analysing the artist’s materials and painting techniques, including canvases, pigments, binders and varnishes. This research forms the basis for creating a knowledge base on Wierusz-Kowalski’s painting technique.
Another important element of contemporary efforts to promote the artist’s legacy is the Alfred Wierusz-Kowalski Foundation in Suwałki, established in 2023. The Foundation, co-founded by the artist’s family, is dedicated to preserving the memory of Alfred Wierusz-Kowalski and his entire family, organising exhibitions and promoting his work.
