Ferdynand Ruszczyc is known as a painter of atmospheric, highly expressive landscapes. In his canvases, which depict seemingly ordinary landscapes, one can sense an emotional connection to nature, as well as a deep attachment to his hometown – Bohdanów, situated in what is now Belarus. The motif of Bohdanów appears, amongst other works, in the 1899 painting *In Front of the Church*, which is now part of the collection of the National Art Museum in Minsk. Although this is the only work by the painter held in Belarusian public collections, Ferdynand Ruszczyc remains a very important figure in the culture of that country.

The Church of St Michael the Archangel in Bohdanów
Painted in oil, the painting depicts a scene taking place in front of the Church of St Michael the Archangel in Bohdanów. The creation of the painting was preceded by numerous sketches and preparatory studies, which are now held in Polish museums (e.g. the National Museum in Warsaw) or in private collections. The painting depicts a section of the church including the entrance, in front of which a group of worshippers has gathered. The human figures are rendered in the schematic style typical of Ruszczyc. The forces of nature dominate human existence. The painter masterfully captures the atmosphere of an early spring day – an intensely blue sky dotted with billowing clouds, bare tree branches and a soft light that brings out the texture of the buildings depicted. On the left-hand side, the composition is framed by a wooden belfry.

Unfortunately, the architecture depicted by Ruszczyc no longer exists today. The Church of St Michael the Archangel, built in the second half of the 17th century – as a foundation of Piotr Michał Pac, Starost of Żmudź, and his first wife Tekla Konstancja née Wołłowicz – was destroyed by fire during the Second World War. Ruszczyc’s painting, alongside photographs taken in the 1930s by Jan Bułhak and Juliusz Kłos, is therefore one of the few sources documenting the church’s appearance.

Towards the end of the 20th century, a new church built of white brick was erected in Bohdanów (consecrated in 1999), the design of which echoed the shape of the old church. A wooden, tent-roofed belfry was also built at that time. In recent years, both buildings have undergone radical modernisation and today bear no resemblance whatsoever to the modest originals.

An artist from Bohdanów
Ferdynand Ruszczyc was born on 10 December 1870 in Bohdanów. The estate, situated in the former Oszmiana County in the Vilnius Region, was acquired in 1836 by the painter’s grandfather, also named Ferdynand. It remained in the hands of the Ruszczyc family until the Second World War. The intertwining Lithuanian, Belarusian and Polish influences in the Oszmiana region had a marked impact on the artist’s work, as did the changes in his place of residence during his youth. As a result of the repression following the January Uprising, his family was forced to move first to Liepāja and then to Minsk. Ruszczyc studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in St Petersburg, where he made his debut in 1897 at an exhibition of graduation works (the paintings *Evening Star*, *Tritons* and *Spring* were purchased for his collection in Moscow by Pavel M. Tretyakov). He received the academy’s medal on several occasions for his student works. Although he travelled extensively around the world in search of artistic inspiration (including, between 1894–1895 to the Crimea, and later to Sweden, Germany, France, Belgium and Italy), the motif of his home town constantly recurred in his work. The landscapes of this area, the view of his family home and the parish church were an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the artist. He spent the first few years after graduating in Bohdanów. It was then that he painted *In Front of the Church*, as well as one of Ruszczyc’s best-known works today – *The Land*.

Motifs from Bohdanów and Vilnius in Ruszczyc’s work
Ferdynand Ruszczyc’s paintings and diaries are an important source of knowledge about the history of the region from which he hailed. The village of Bohdanów was founded in the mid-16th century by Bohdan Sapieha – hence its name. In his work, Ruszczyc repeatedly returned to the theme of his home village; it features, amongst other works, in the series ‘Bohdanów Interiors’, created between 1905 and 1907. He also dedicated the last of his oil paintings to it – *Gniazdo* (*The Nest*), painted in 1908. After that, Ruszczyc did not return to easel painting, but instead devoted himself to teaching (from 1904 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, and from 1907 to 1908 as head of the landscape department at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków), as well as creating theatre sets, commercial art, posters and book covers. All his artistic activity during this period was centred on Vilnius, where he settled in 1909. In 1919, he became dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts established at the reactivated Stefan Batory University. He was also closely associated with Vilnius University, designing some of its interiors, as well as all its insignia, commemorative plaques, seals and invitations. In Vilnius, Ruszczyc became involved in organising cultural activities and promoting the city and its monuments; for many years he was a member of the local City Council.

Towards the end of his life, due to health problems (in October 1932 he suffered a stroke, as a result of which he lost the ability to speak and the use of his right hand), he withdrew from intensive work and returned to Bohdanów. Using his left hand, he continued to produce oil sketches and drawings, organised his extensive collections and arranged his library. He died on 30 October 1936 and was buried in the local family cemetery. Today, this is the only physical trace of Ruszczyc that remains in Bohdanów. His family estate burnt down in 1944; only the remains of the foundations are left of the entire building.