‘Vilnius 1925’, cover

The Polish graphic artist and painter Wilhelm Ossecki (1892–1958), nicknamed Wolf, studied at Kraków Academy of Arts from 1910 to 1918. He distinguished himself as a gifted graphic artist while still a student. At the same time, he studied the history of art at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, acquiring an appreciation and a professional knowledge of historic architecture. Ossecki lived in Poznań from 1920 to 1934, travelled in Poland and drew pictures of various historic sites, and often visited France. In 1934 he settled in the Wilanów Palace in Warsaw, where he was invited to manage the Branicki art collection, one of the most valuable in Poland. After the Second World War, he moved to Piastów, and then to Białystok, and taught art in various schools.

Ossecki’s collection of prints Wilno 1925 (Vilnius 1925) belongs to his Poznań period. During that time he visited Vilnius, and made drawings of the most notable places in the city. The cover of the book, with the miracle-working picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Gates of Dawn, and the crowned figures kneeling in prayer, shows Vilnius as a royal and historic city.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album VILNIUS. TOPOPHILIA II (2015). Compiler and author Laima Laučkaitė
Expositions: “Vilnius. Topophilia. Views of Vilnius from the collection of the law firm Ellex Valiunas”, 5 October – 26 November 2017, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius (curator Laima Laučkaitė). ‘Vilnius Forever. A Dialogue of Artworks and Guides to the City’, 25 May 2022 – 30 April 2023 Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE (Užupio St. 40, Vilnius). Curator Laima Laučkaitė.

The Polish graphic artist and painter Wilhelm Ossecki (1892–1958), nicknamed Wolf, studied at Kraków Academy of Arts from 1910 to 1918. He distinguished himself as a gifted graphic artist while still a student. At the same time, he studied the history of art at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, acquiring an appreciation and a professional knowledge of historic architecture. Ossecki lived in Poznań from 1920 to 1934, travelled in Poland and drew pictures of various historic sites, and often visited France. In 1934 he settled in the Wilanów Palace in Warsaw, where he was invited to manage the Branicki art collection, one of the most valuable in Poland. After the Second World War, he moved to Piastów, and then to Białystok, and taught art in various schools.

Ossecki’s collection of prints Wilno 1925 (Vilnius 1925) belongs to his Poznań period. During that time he visited Vilnius, and made drawings of the most notable places in the city. The cover of the book, with the miracle-working picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Gates of Dawn, and the crowned figures kneeling in prayer, shows Vilnius as a royal and historic city.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album VILNIUS. TOPOPHILIA II (2015). Compiler and author Laima Laučkaitė
Expositions: “Vilnius. Topophilia. Views of Vilnius from the collection of the law firm Ellex Valiunas”, 5 October – 26 November 2017, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius (curator Laima Laučkaitė). ‘Vilnius Forever. A Dialogue of Artworks and Guides to the City’, 25 May 2022 – 30 April 2023 Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE (Užupio St. 40, Vilnius). Curator Laima Laučkaitė.