Bronisław Kłobucki

Bronisław Kłobucki (1896–1944), was a Polish sculptor and painter whose works are associated with Bydgoszcz and its region.

Biography Youth in Prussian Bromberg His parents were Stanisław and Marcjanna, née Strysik. They moved to Bydgoszcz in 1894, coming from the village of Taszewskie Pole, near Jeżewo (Świecie county), as the father, a master carpenter, found work in the locally well-known furniture factory of Otto Pfefferkon, then located in Bahnhoffstraße.

Little is known about the artist's early youth. In 1910, he graduated from the "Folk School" in Szwederowo.

First World War During First World War, Bronisław was drafted into the German army: in 1915, he fought on the western front.

After graduation, Bronisław Kłobucki stayed in Bydgoszcz as registered in the 1926 city address book ("student, at 43 Nowodworska street") or in the 1933 issue ("Artist sculptor at 50 Gdańska Street"). The latter was the location of his second studio.

In 1928, he participated on his first salon, the "Exhibition of paintings, sculptures and graphics by artists from Nadnotecia and Pomerania" at the Municipal Museum, together with Piotr Triebler, Stanisław Teodor Wachowicz, Antoni Olejnik and Ignacy Zelek from Toruń. An allegoric ensemble, called The four parts of the year, depicting the four seasons. They have been lost when the new botanic garden at Myślęcinek opened in 1979. Thanks to sponsoring efforts (Ewa Taterczynska Foundation and Bydgoszcz Pomeranian Gas Company), the decorative works have been restored to their original shape and location; A relief map of Bydgoszcz in artificial stone, on the southern side of the Botanic Garden. The plan exposes rivers, valleys, hills, waters, railways, selected roads and buildings. The relief was accompanied by water fountains (lost today) and two stone benches with mascarons.

In the mid-1930s, the artist received more and more commissions from Bydgoszcz parishes.

In 1934, Kłobucki and his friends took part in the annual exhibition "Grupa Plastyk Pomorskich" (Pomeranian Plastics Group) realized at the Municipal Museum. The catalog of the exhibition mentions that Kłobucki presented there the following pieces, nowadays non-existent: "Biust Prezydenta Ignacego Mościckiego (plaster); "Marszałek Piłsudski" (wood); "Portret Ks. M" (gypsum); "Crucifix" (wood).

In 1935, Bronisław started one of his major woodcarving projects in cooperation with his brother Wacław. The resulting pieces of art are two neo-baroque side altars, designed by Marian Andrzejewski from Poznań. They were placed in the parish church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Szwederowo district, in the side aisles of the temple. Both altars are signed by the two artists/brothers. Two side altars with figures of saints, 1937–1939; A statue of Saint Thérèse, 1937; A pulpit with bas-reliefs portraying the Evangelists (lost) and a neo-baroque confessional (preserved) for Saint Nicolas church in Fordon.

World War II During the occupation, Kłobucki was identified by Nazi authorities as an element of the 3rd category/"Eingedeutschte" or "Voluntarily Germanised". Any refusal to join this list often led to deportation to a concentration camp: as a consequence, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht.

He died on 22 September 1944, during the Battle of Arnhem.

Family Marcjanna and Stanisław Kłobucki had five children: Wacław and Ludwik were born in Taszewskie Pole, while Bronisław, Józef and Wanda were born in Bydgoszcz.

The eldest son Wacław, born in 1891, took over the carpentry profession after his father and worked, like him, in Otto Pfefferkon's factory. He collaborated with Bronisław in the late 1930s on woodcarving projects. During WWI, Wacław, as a Prussian citizen, fought in Warmia on the German side. He was wounded and lost one leg. "Bust of Carl August Franke" (1927), commissioned by a private client. A plaster copy is exhibited at the Regional Museum in Bydgoszcz. Sculptures for a chapel of the Poor Clares' Church in Bydgoszcz, commemorating the fallen inhabitants of Bydgoszcz (1927). Non existent.

"Lying lions" (1927) for a monument chapel to the soldiers fallen at the Battle of Brodnica against the Bolshevik forces on 18 August 1920. The chapel was located at the military cemetery of Brodnica. Neo-baroque ciborium (1928), placed in the church of Saint Nicholas in Fordon. "Monument to the Fallen on the Field of Glory 1918 – 1920" (1929). Erected in the courtyard of the barracks of the "61st Greater Poland Infantry Regiment" in Bydgoszcz. It was moved in 1933 to Polnocna Street, now Powstańców Warszawy street. Destroyed during WWII. An obelisk dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the "61 Pułk Piechoty" regiment (1929). Destroyed during WWII. "Pomnik Powstańca" (Monument to the Insurgent), (1929–1930). Unveiled 1 June 1930, it used to stand on the Old Market place (now Plac Wolności) of Łobżenica. "Oberek and Polonaise", 1930, (artificial stone). Outdoor figural works, life size, portraying Polish dances, which used to stand in a city garden of Bydgoszcz. Destroyed by the Germans in 1939. A copy of "Oberek" still exists. "Głowa ślepca", 1930 (wood). "Boy with a globe", 1932, placed in the garden of a school at 20 Świętojańska street. Destroyed in 1939. "Biust Marszałka Śmigłego Rydza" (plaster), "Portret księdza, dziekana G." (plaster), "Profil Chopina" (wood), all presented at a 1936 exhibition. Lost. "Portret Prezydenta Barciszewskiego" (gypsum), 1937. Lost.

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