Tussle continues over handover of gothic masterpiece

The Czech National Gallery has failed to return the valuable gothic painting, the Madonna of Veveří, to the Catholic Church. According to a previous ruling of a Prague court, the painting was recognised as the property of the church and the gallery was supposed to hand it over by Thursday, February 18. The church’s lawyer František Severin said it would call in the bailiffs if the deadline was not met. The National Gallery’s spokeswoman, Tereza Ježková, said they were ready to release the painting as soon as they have all the necessary documents. The Madonna of Veveří, from the first half of the 14th century, is ascribed to an artist close to the Master of Vyšší Brod. Until 1938 it decorated the interior of a church at the Veveří Castle.

Author: Ruth Fraňková