Preparations underway for Slav Epic relocation

Prague City Gallery workers on Thursday began preparing the controversial relocation of the Slav Epic, a series of 20 large canvases by the Art Nouveau painter Alphonse Mucha, from the town of Moravský Krumlov to the capital. Several dozen people protested the move. The preparations should take about three weeks; after that, the Slav Epic should be relocated to Prague where it should be featured in a new exhibition.

Alphonse Mucha bestowed the Slav Epic to the city of Prague on condition it would build a special pavilion for it. That has never happened, and the cycle has been on display in Moravský Krumlov for nearly 50 years. When Prague City Hall requested the return of the paintings earlier this year, Moravský Krumlov blocked the move; however, a local court cancelled the restraining order in September. The governor of the South Moravian region appealed on Thursday to Prague authorities to stop the relocation.

Author: Jan Richter