Page 44 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

42  INTRODUCING PR A GUE

Exploring the Museums
and Galleries

The city’s museums give a fascinating insight into the history
of the Czechs and of Prague’s Jewish population. Also a
revelation to visitors unfamiliar with the culture is the art of
the Gothic and Baroque periods and of the 19th-century
Czech National Revival. The National Gallery’s plans to show
more collections are underway, with Salmovský Palace the
home of temporary exhibitions.

For some of the best Bohemian
Czech Painting art, you must visit the Baroque
and Sculpture works at the Schwarzenberg
The most important and wide­ Palace, just outside the main
ranging collection in Prague is gate of the Castle. The works
that of the National Gallery. Its here include examples by
holdings of Czech art are shown Baroque masters Karel Škréta 14th-century Madonna Aracoeli, St Vitus
at two venues: medieval art is and Petr Brandl. On permanent Treasure, Prague Castle
housed at St Agnes of Bohemia display within the Castle is the
Convent, and 20th­ to 21st­ St Vitus Treasure, a collection such groundbreaking groups
century art is on display at of religious pieces including as Osma, Devětsil, Skupina 42
the Trade Fair Palace. a Madonna from the School and the 12.15 group is also
The Picture Gallery of Prague of Master Theodoric. well documented.
Castle is a reminder of Emperor Centuries of Czech sculpture
Rudolph II’s once­great art are housed in the Lapidarium
collection. Alongside the at the Exhibition Ground. European Painting and
Sculpture
paintings are documents and Among its exhibits is statuary
other evidence of just how formerly found on the Charles On view at Sternberg Palace is
splendid the original collection Bridge, and the Marian pillar an exceptional range of master­
must have been. that used to stand in the pieces by Europe’s finest artists
Old Town Square. from antiquity to the 18th
The collection at the St century. The most treasured
Agnes of Bohemia Convent work in the collection is the
includes Bohemian and central Feast of the Rosary by Albrecht
European Gothic painting and Dürer. Works by 17th­century
sculpture, including panels Dutch masters such as Rubens
painted for Charles IV by and Rembrandt also feature.
Master Theodoric. Works The museum of 20th­ and
by 19th­ and 20th­century 21st­century art at the Trade
Prague artists can be seen Fair Palace has a fine collection
at the Prague Gallery. Its of Picassos and Rodin bronzes,
branches include the as well as works from almost
Baroque Troja Palace, every Impressionist, Post­
where the architecture Impressionist and Fauvist.
makes a great backdrop. Three notable self­portraits are
Exhibitions are drawn those of Paul Gauguin (Bonjour
from the gallery’s 3,000 Monsieur Gauguin, 1889), Henri
paintings, 1,000 statues Rousseau (1890) and Pablo
and 4,000 prints. The Picasso (1907). Modern German
superb museum of 20th­ and Austrian painting is also on
and 21st­century art at show, with works by Gustav
the Trade Fair Palace Klimt and Egon Schiele. The
represents almost every Dance of Life, by Norwegian
20th­century artistic Edvard Munch, influenced
movement. Cubism and Czech avant­garde art.
Art Nouveau are both The other main venue for
represented, as are the European art is the Picture
1920s figures of renowned Gallery of Prague Castle,
sculptor Otto Gutfreund. which focuses on European
Otto Gutfreund’s Commerce (1923), Trade Fair Palace The development of painters of the 16th to 18th

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