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ArtsThe Polemics of Miloš Jiránek on view at National Gallery
This Thursday saw the opening of a new exhibition at the National
Gallery’s Kinský Palace Stables Gallery marking 100 years since the
death of post-impressionist painter, man-of-letters and critic Miloš
Jiránek, who contributed strongly to the Czech “National Awakening” at
the end of the 19th century. Although he died at the age of just 35,
Jiránek was a most influential figure whose paintings, as well as written
works, have seen renewed appreciation. The show, entitled The Polemics of
Miloš Jiránek, features oils, water colours, drawings, and woodcut prints
– many of the images pristine, featuring earthy hues and soft light.
It’s a small show but well-worth seeing. More
Arts'A Hidden Face of Baroque’ offers viewers a unique opportunity to savour & contemplate rare 17th century prints
A new exhibition entitled ‘A Hidden Face of Baroque’ opened on Thursday
at the National Gallery’s Kinský Palace in Prague. The show allows
visitors a chance to view rare 17th century prints historically tied to the
lands of to Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia. Many are faithful renderings of
works by early Baroque painters such as Karel Škréta, expertly reproduced
by engravers both in Bohemia and neighbouring Germany, especially Augsburg,
renowned for printmaking at that time. The exhibition highlights all of the
dramatic grandeur, symbolism and allegory typical of the Baroque style. More
Current AffairsCulture Ministry orders return of state-owned artworks from abroad to avoid seizures in arbitration case
The Czech Republic will bring back home state-owned artworks that are on
loan abroad in an effort to avoid their seizure in a protracted arbitration
case. The decision comes after an Austrian court last week upheld the
claims of the Swiss firm Diag Human and seized three modernist artworks
lent to a gallery in Vienna. The Czech Foreign Ministry considers any
seizures of Czech property in breach of international law. More
Current AffairsNational Gallery to be headed by economist Vladimír Rösel
The Minister of Culture, Jiří Besser, has appointed a fresh face to the
head of the Czech Republic’s National Gallery, that of economist Vladimír
Rösel. Though chosen for the position by a selection committee and praised
by the minister for having by far the best plan for leading the gallery
into the future, critics have been quick to point out his obvious drawback
– that he is neither an artist nor an art academic. What’s more, Mr
Rösel replaces a huge figure in the Czech art world, Milan Knížák, an
artist of world-renown whose 12-year tenure in the gallery has nonetheless
been speckled with mishaps and controversies. Earlier on Tuesday we spoke
with art theorist Tomáš Pospiszyl about the situation. More
Talking PointNational Gallery’s Milan Knížák warns budget cuts will force gallery to opt for drastic solution: to shut down in winter months
Prague’s National Gallery, one of the country’s most respected cultural
institutions which includes a number of venues including Veletržní
palace, has, along with other state-funded organisations, been told by the
austerity government to save 15 percent of its budget next year. The cuts,
following the earlier financial crisis, are expected to hit the gallery
hard. While some steps have already been taken – a reduction in the
number of exhibitions, a cutting back on acquisitions, a lowering of the
number of staff – it is not likely to be enough. As a result, this week
gallery head Milan Knížák warned of a more drastic solution if
additional funds aren’t found. More
Current AffairsNational Gallery hosts collection of 20th century masterpieces
Many of the most famous artists of the 20th century will be in Prague as of
Wednesday, vicariously through their artworks that is, as the National
Gallery opens a major new exhibition called Monet – Warhol, showcasing
masterpieces from the Albertina Museum in Vienna. The collection of 80
paintings merely begins with Monet and ends with Andy Warhol, with multiple
works by Matisse, Magritte, Kandinsky and many more found in between.
Taking famous collections on loan from abroad has not been a common trend
in the National Gallery and I asked its director Milan Knížák if it had
been difficult to materialise.
More
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