Popular in antiquity, death mask were attributed with magical powers. With time they became a way of commemorating famous people. Józef Nikodem Kłosowski, a teacher, columnist, littérateur and more importantly the first person to come up with an idea to establish a museum in Krasnystaw, had his mask made a few days after his demise in November 1959 by Krasnystaw-born sculptor, Józef Ciechan.