Kazimierz Borucki

Kazimierz Borucki (1898–1986) was a Polish painter, art conservator, curator, head of the Municipal Museum (1926–1939) and director of the Leon Wyczółkowski Regional Museum (1946–1965) in Bydgoszcz.

Life Youth Kazimierz Borucki was born on 11 July 1898, in Inowrocław. He was one of six children of Wojciech and Anna, née Wrzesińska.

In 1906, along with his older sister, Władysława, he participated in the 1906 school strike. After graduating from elementary school, he received private lessons from a priest, Father Antoni Laubitz.

Kazimierz began his professional training at the age of 13, in the studio of art conservator Jan Rutkowski, Gorucki presented several of his works and displayed in 1933 a memorabilia exhibit from the history of Bydgoszcz. In 1937, Kazimierz supervised the transport of 400 works by Wyczółkowski, donated to thr city of Bydgoszcz by Franciszka Wyczółkowska, the painter's widow. In addition, the museum's inventory was enriched by a collection of sculptures donated by Konstanty Laszczka. All these valuable acquisitions were presented during a special show organized in the premises of the Borderland Internat on Chodkiewicza Street.

During the 1930s, Kazimierz Borucki continually enriched the museum's acquisition with works by outstanding artists from various domains Some items were preserved by the city gallery while several others were secured in hidden compartments located in the columns and pillars of the churches. Among the most valuable items hoarded away were the bells of the Bydgoszcz Cathedral and the 15th-century painting of the Bydgoszcz Madonna .

Prior to the demolition of the Jesuit church and the museum building sitting on the Old Market Square, Kazimierz managed to have valuable artworks and collections moved in December 1939, to the Polish House. This action helped to salvage paintings by Maksymilian Piotrowski (St. Ignatius of Loyola and Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary) that used to stand at the main altar of the church, as well as historic church paraments. His achievements allowed as well to save from destruction the painting Our Lady of Górka and historic paraments from the Basilica in Górka Klasztorna near Łobżenica.

Thanks to Konrad Kothe's efforts, the removal of valuable museum objects to the Nazi Germany was halted. In the winter of 1944, some of the artifacts were evacuated to various manor houses around Bydgoszcz, fearing bombing. Only a small portion of the removed artifacts survived.

For his participation as a private to the Home Army, Kazimierz Borucki was eventually sent in the middle of 1944, to a forced labor site in Popioły near Aleksandrów Kujawski.

Post war years After liberation, Borucki resumed his position of curator of the City museum. Thanks to his efforts, the institution moved to a new location, in the former Poor Clares Convent at 4 Gdańska Street, which served as a military hospital during the conflict.

Social and scientific activities Kazimierz Borucki actively participated in numerous artistic, scientific, and social organizations and associations, among others: he was a founding member of the Towarzystwo Miłośników Miasta Bydgoszczy in 1923. He served as vice-chairman and chairman of the board of the association and was an honorary member of that organization from 1967; in 1935, he co-founded the Towarzystwa Numizmatycznego w Bydgoszczy , he also co-founded the Bydgoszcz branch of Polskiego Towarzystwa Archeologicznego , serving as its president from 1954 and receiving in 1966 an honorary membership; in 1926, he joined the Pomeranian branch of the Związek Polskich Artystów Plastyków ; he participated in the work of the Rada Artystyczno-Kulturalna w Bydgoszczy established in 1934; from 1931, he became involved in the activities of the Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Sztuki w Bydgoszczy ; he was a member of the Association of Museums in Poland. after the war (1954), he worked for the Bydgoszcz Scientific Society.

Furthermore, Kazimierz was also a journalist and author of numerous scholarly and popular science works on art history, museum studies and the history of the city.

He left behind several paintings, particularly with religious themes.

Personal life In addition to Leon Wyczółkowski, Borucki had many other artistic acquaintances: his closest friends were painter Franciszek Gajewski and sculptor Piotr Triebler.

Kazimierz Borucki married in February 1923 to Gertruda Elżbieta née Piotrowska. The couple had three children: Aurelia Elżbieta (born 1926), Wojciech Jerzy (born 1930) and Andrzej Kazimierz (born 1933). Aurelia (Borucka-Nowicka) hold the position of director of the Regional Museum of Bydgoszcz -like her father- from 1989 to 1995.

After his retirement, Kazimierz's family moved to a flat at 21 Gdańska Street where he devoted himself to his passion – art conservation.

Awards and Commemorations Medal of the 10th Anniversary of Regained Independence (1929); Badge Za Waleczność (1934), awarded to reward the merits of participants in the Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919); Front Pomorski badge (1934), as having served in a unit of the Polish Army with the aim of regaining Eastern Pomerania; Silver Cross of Merit (1937); Cross of Independence (1938); Silver Medal of the 600th Anniversary of Bydgoszcz (1946); Golden Cross of Merit (1955); Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal (1957), awarded for saving sacred artifacts; Medal of the 10th Anniversary of People's Poland (1958); Badge Bydgoszcz to the Distinguised Citizens (1960); Golden Badge of the Association of Polish Artists and Designers (1977); Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1978).

One of the streets in Fordon district was named after Kazimierz Borucki (Nad Wisłą estate).

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