What occasioned the writing of this article was the 150th anniversary (in 2017) of initiating the research on Cistersian Order on Polish territory. The research was first launched by publishing a monumental monograph about the cloister in Mogiła (“Monograph of Cistersians’ abbey in Mogiła dedicated to the memory of Cracow Academy in its 500th anniversary in 1864”, Cracow 1867). In this book which set new standards in Polish history writing, apart from strictly historical passages also some ground-breaking papers about history of architecture and art were included. “Beginnings” of vivid interest in material heritage of Cistersian Order on Polish grounds date back to an exceptional period, since no independent state of Poland existed at the time. It was also a moment of acute crisis of the order when many of its houses were either empty or inhabited by the last friars. Władysław Łuszczkiewicz (1828-1900), a painter and art historian initiated this research. His academic achievements are widely recognized by Polish scholars. His is mentioned in virtually every publication on the Polish history of art. In this paper his heritage was presented, his techniques (methodology of research) reconstructed, his discoveries evaluated and his influence on later scholars of architecture and history of Cistersian Order determined.