Donation to the Museum, building up the collection

The beginnings of Wyczółkowski's Bydgoszcz collection are linked to the artist's move to Gościeradz in 1922. At that time, the painter visited Bydgoszcz many times. The first exhibition of Wyczółkowski's works in Bydgoszcz took place in Municipal Museum in 1924.
After this event, he donated the Portrait of General Władysław Jung to the collection. Subsequently, the artist and his wife made several further gifts and purchases. Among these, the largest was a legation dated 8 April 1937 made by artist’s wife Franciszka in accordance with Wyczółkowski's last will. The donation consisted of nearly 410 items, including works of art, studio equipment and the master’s personal effects. At the beginning of the war, and towards the end of his life, the painter's widow made an additional donation, which was unfortunately lost during the turmoil of war. To emphasise the artist's influence on the building of the Bydgoszcz collection, the museum opened after the occupation was named after Leon Wyczółkowski.