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Publikacijoje pristatomas mokslininkas, kalbotyrininkas, etnografas, muziejininkas Bronislavas Petras Pilsudskis (Bronisław Piotr Piłsudski) (1866–1918), kaip vienas iš pirmųjų XX a. pradžios Lietuvos kryždirbystės skleidėjų Vakarų Europoje. Savo pastebėjimus apie lietuviškų kryžių pastatymo tradicijas, jų formos tyrinėjimus B. Pilsudskis atskleidė 1916 m. išleistoje knygelėje „Lietuviški kryžiai“. Apžvelgiamos šios knygelės atsiradimo priežastys, ryšys su 1906 m. pasirodžiusia pirmąja solidžia Mykolo Eustachijaus Brenšteino (Michał Eustachy Brensztejn) (1874–1938) studija apie žemaičių kryžius ir koplytėles. „Lietuviški kryžiai“ – tekstas labai jautrus, lakoniškas, papildytas piešiniais, įprasmina tautos paveldo reikšmę dvasinio gyvenimo lygmenyje. The works of Bronisław Piłsudski, a prominent Lithuanian-born scientist, linguist, ethnographer and museologist, are not particularly well known to Lithuanian audiences. In 2017, the Lithuanian Art Museum, together with the Polish Institute in Vilnius and Tatra Museum in Zakopane, held an exhibition at the LDM Radvilas Palace entitled Bronisław Piłsudski (1866–1918) – Ethnographer and Museologist. B. Piłsudski became known throughout the world thanks to his scientific research, which he began in 1887 during forced exile in Sakhalin, focused on the ethnographic cultural heritage, vocabulary, customs and traditions of diminishing local tribes: Ainu, Nivkh (Gilyak) and Orak. B. Piłsudski published his notes on Lithuanian cross building traditions and a study of their shapes in his book Lithuanian Crosses, released in 1916 in Switzerland. The work shows his desire to honour the ethnographic cultural heritage of his motherland, i.e. the artistic work of traditional Lithuanian cross makers, dievdirbiai (carvers of sacral statuettes), and blacksmiths. Lithuanian crosses stand out as monuments to the nation’s faith, piety, spiritual life, history and customs, attesting to how significant the creative work of folk artists is for the nation. The book shows some signs of being influenced by the 1906 study on Samogitian crosses and chapels by Mykolas Eustachijus Breinšteinas. Piłsudski’s text and illustrations provided early 20th century Europe with an opportunity to learn about cross making – the most unique sphere of Lithuanian folk art.

During a folk art expedition that took place in 1973, the Lithuanian Art Museum acquired a wooden folk architecture chapel post from Matas Saročka, a resident of the Plačiuva village (Viduklės area, Raseiniai district) with the Sorrowful Mother of God inside, holding the body of Jesus on her knees. Kneeling angel figurines are positioned either side of her. This chapel post with the sculptural composition was carved by the father of Matas Saročka, Simonas Saročka (1860–1952). The discovery of the Plačiuva pieta is the only known work that can be attributed to god carver S. Saročka. Its artistic form and individual folk realist style helped researchers to find more pieces carved by this folk sculptor whose creators had hitherto been unknown or had been incorrectly attributed to other authors. Based on the characteristic style of the folk artist and god carver S. Saročka, and his particular attention to the pieta composition, the author of this publication presents other items of his workmanship that have been discovered in other Lithuanian museums, churches and private collections. The chapel posts and carved sculptures of folk artist S. Saročka are a valuable part of folk art heritage from the Raseiniai district from the first half of the 20th century. In order to become better acquainted with the artistic creations of this interesting god carver and find more of his works, the old sculpture collections of our national museums should be reviewed. The potential discovery of more of his works would contribute significantly to enriching our general understanding of folk master and god carver S. Saročka‘s artistic creations, clearly showing the author‘s consistent attention to the pieta image, and his uniquely sensitive approach to this narrative. Up until now, there is basically no information about the folk art master and god carver S. Saročka in written sources. However, work is already underway to bring this undeservedly overlooked folk artist to the public‘s attention. A staff member from the Rare Manuscripts Department in the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Wroblewski Library, Aida Grybienė, has compiled and prepared for publishing the memoirs of S. Saročka‘s grand-daughter, Stanislava Saročkaitė-Pranckienė (b. 1933). They are published in this article.

Vincas Svirskis – žymiausias savamokslis Vidurio Lietuvos dievdirbys ir kryždirbys. 2015 m. buvo minimos šio garsaus lietuvių liaudies skulptoriaus 180-osios gimimo metinės, 2016-aisiais – mirties šimtmečio sukaktis. 1966 m pasirodė pirmoji išsami kultūros tyrinėtojos Irenos Kostkevičiūtės studija apie kryždirbio gyvenimą ir kūrybą – „Vincas Svirskas“. Knygoje autorė atskleidė liaudies kūrėjo asmenybę, aptarė originalią paminklų, sodybose, pakelėse, kapinėse stovinčių kryžių meninę formą, perteikė išsamų kūrybos vaizdą, publikavo liaudies meistro kūrinių nuotraukas ir paskelbė žemėlapį, kuriame pažymėtos 63 žinomų jo kurtų paminklų stovėjimo vietos. Daugiausia jų pastatyta Kėdainių ir Panevėžio apylinkėse, abipus Nevėžio esančiuose kaimuose, taip pat Kauno, Raseinių, Radviliškio apylinkėse. Tačiau kai kurie kūriniai tuo metu buvo nežinomi. Straipsnyje nagrinėjami neseniai atrasti V. Svirskio darbai, saugomi Panevėžio, Kėdainių apylinkių bažnyčiose. Teigiama, kad jis užsiėmė ne vien kryždirbyste, bet drožė ir angelų, šventųjų skulptūras bei Nukryžiuotuosius bažnyčių altoriams bei interjerams, katafalkų ir procesijų kryžius. Šių darbų meninė raiška atspindi meistro skulptūriniams kryžiams, koplytstulpiams būdingus bruožus, savitą, individualų ir nepakartojamą meninį stilių. Bažnyčioms sukurtos V. Svirskio skulptūros, į kurias jo tyrinėtojai neatkreipė dėmesio ir kurios iki šiol buvo neskelbtos ir nežinomos, leidžia geriau pažinti liaudies menininko kūrybinį palikimą, naujai įvertinti jo darbų paplitimą, patikslinti kūrybinę biografiją. Vincas Svirskis is the most prominent self-taught god-carver and crosscrafter of Lithuania. In 2015 the 180th birth anniversary of the famous Lithuanian folk sculptor was commemorated and 2016 marked 100 years after his death. The first comprehensive monograph about the cross-crafter’s life and work appeared in 1966 by cultural researcher Irena Kostkevičiūtė who published the study “Vincas Svirskis”. The author revealed the folks artist’s personality, discussed artistic form of artworks standing in farmsteads, on roadsides, in cemeteries, gave detailed analysis of Svirskis’ artworks with photos of the folk master’s works, and published a map of his best-known monuments. Most of them were built in the surrounding areas of Kėdainiai and Panevėžys, also in surrounding areas of Kaunas, Raseiniai and Radviliškis. However, some artworks were not known at the time. These recently discovered artworks of Svirskis, preserved in Panevėžys and Kėdainiai district churches, were studied by the author of this article. She claims that, in addition to cross-crafting, Svirskis also carved angels, saints, crucifixions for altars of churches and their interiors, as well as crosses for hearses and processions. Artistic expression of these artworks reflects characteristic features of sculptor’s masterpieces, individual and unique artistic styles. There are no researches on Svirskis’ church sculptures. Analysing them allows getting a better understanding of creative heritage of the folk artist, as well as re-evaluating spread of his artworks and revising his biography.

In 2015, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania declared the year of Ethnographic regions. Coordinators of the project "The Path of Lithuanian Museums" developed significant theme for ethno culture "The Beauty of Folk Art". Marija Kuodienė established a small travelling exhibition "Mother of God in Lithuanian Folk Art" from the folk sculpture collection of the Lithuanian Art Museum (LAM). Exhibition has revealed essential life stages of the Blessed Virgin Mary, her importance for a folk Christian tradition, the beauty of folk sculpture. The topic was significantly supplemented by the exhibition "Lithuanian Folk Art Tradition in Vytautas Ignas Creative Work" designed by Irena Dobrovolskaitė. On the 29th of May - the 9th of July 2015, both exhibitions were displayed in Veisėjai Region Musem (the branch of Lazdijai Museum). Exhibitions attracted great attention from visitors. On 10th July 2015, exhibitions have been transferred and further exhibited in Marijampolė, in the Memorial Museum of the President of Lithuania K. Grinius. Ancient folk sculpture and exhibition of the famous contemporary graphic artist V. Ignas perfectly reflected the ethno-cultural heritage and the influence of traditional values to the further development of the Lithuanian art. Combined exhibition impressively developed and supplemented the "The Path of Lithuanian Museums" program and Lithuanian folk art theme.