Mucha's "The Slav Epic" Dilemma

27. 7. 2010 / Petr Jánský

Alfons Mucha painted the symbolic journey of our Czech history in the Zbiroh Castle, between 1910 -1928. We are talking about 20 giant canvases measuring about 4x5m. In 1928, Mucha, along with American patron Charles R. Crane, dedicated the painting to all Czechoslovak people, counting with Prague building a special place for the exhibition of the piece. The Prague Gallery (Galerie hl. města Prahy) was given the rights of use of the painting. During the Second World War the paintings had been hidden in two different places and ended up partially damaged by humidity.

A Czech version of this article is in CLICK HERE

Because the Communists didn't have the Alfons Mucha painting among their priorities, at some point in the 1950s the piece was lent to Moravský Krumlov (MK), where they were restored and, from August 4th 1963, became part of the local castle's permanent exhibition.

Recently, the capital's gallery decided it want it back to Prague, where the painting would be once again restored and then exhibited at the Trade Fair Palace (Veletržní palác). That wish provoked an unexpected reaction from Moravský Krumlov. The city authorities refused to give back the painting and Alfons Mucha's grandson John went to Court to keep that from happening and at the same time asked the justice system to decide where the painting belongs.

On Sunday, about a thousand people from MK protested and daily Právo wrote that they claim that "only because of MK the painting was saved".

There is truth to it. That painting has been for 50 years already so much linked with the town that it is part of the town's spiritual wealth. Krumlov, put simply, really likes Mucha. To move the painting to the capital would help Prague very little in terms of tourism, while it means the world to MK. It would seriously damage the town.

The Minister of Culture should just give MK the responsibility over the painting without delay and also thank the town for having taken so good care of our Slav Epic for such a long time.

Vytisknout

Obsah vydání | Pondělí 2.8. 2010