Janis Rozentāls – one of the first Latvian professional painters – was born on March 18, 1866 in „Bebri” homestead, Saldus parish. His native land encouraged him to travel further roads to Riga and St.Petersburg. J. Rozentāls came back to Saldus in 1900 as a well-known artist, bought a plot of land at 22 Striku Street and built a studio. The museum was established here after the World War II in 1947. Originals collected by Marts Vējš were the basis for the collection of the museum.
Today the museum consists of four buildings which house the collection of the museum as well as exhibit and history halls.
 
J. Rozentāls' studio houses a biographical exposition about the famous Saldus resident as well as his early original paintings. On the upper floor a great collection of paintings is exhibited. The private collection of Guntis Priedaiks was donated to the town in 2007. It consists of 58 paintings of great Latvian artists.