Mucha’s Slavic epic is back on the table. Prague is looking for space again
The capital will commission its Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) to expand a previously prepared study on the possibilities of locating the Slavic epic Alfons Mucha. While the original document from 2017 only took into account places for new construction, the institute should now include existing buildings.
The councilor for culture Hana Třeštíková (Prague to Herself) came to this conclusion. According to her, the updated study should be completed by mid-year. The cycle of paintings should soon travel to Moravský Krumlov for five years, the exact date of the move is not yet known.
The cycle consists of 20 large canvases, which Mucha has been painting for 18 years since 1910 and dedicated to Prague. Since 2010, the epic is a cultural monument. The paintings are now in the depository of the Capital City Gallery (GHM).
There is no official assignment
Last year, the municipality organized a workshop of city representatives and experts on the location of the epic. “Based on the November workshop, a request was sent to IPR to update an older study,” said Třeštíková.
IPR spokesman Marek Vácha said that the institute has not yet received an official assignment, but expects that the update should take place in the first half of the year. The original 2017 study was recommended by Těšnov as a suitable place for a new building.
Last October, the City Council would lend the cycle for five years to the castle in Moravský Krumlov, where the paintings were exhibited until 2011.
During the loan period, the problem with the missing space in Prague should be solved. According to Třeštíková, GHM is now negotiating a contract with the mayor Tomáš Třetina (TOP 09). “I hope the date will be known soon,” the councilor said.
GHM director Magdalena Juříková pointed out that the condition for the loan is the completion of the castle. “After the trial operation and the measured values correspond to the required parameters, the transport and installation will be planned. All costs, including insurance, will be covered by the borrower, ie the city of Moravský Krumlov,” she added.
Eternal theme
In the past, several sites have been considered for the location of the famous cycle. Under the former mayor Pavel Bémy (ODS), a plan for the construction of a new building in the Výstaviště complex was created. However, the former mayor Adriana Krnáčová (YES) returned to the Exhibition Grounds when she wanted to place the cycle in the rebuilt Lapidary.
However, the current coalition has suspended the reconstruction plan of the building. Based on a study from 2017, a new building in Těšnov was also considered, and in the past, proposals for the construction of a pavilion in Letná were made. In the past, Prague 3 promoted Vítkov Hill, and Prague 2 recently came up with the idea of placing the cycle in the former Vyšehrad railway station, which, however, belongs to private individuals. In 2011, there was also the idea of placing the epic in the renovated Fant’s Central Station building.
Action
Prague is facing a lawsuit from the painter’s relative John Mucha, according to which the city never became the owner of the cycle because it did not meet the author’s condition to build a separate exhibition space for the canvas cycle. The court should rule on the dispute this Wednesday.
The first 11 canvases of the epic were exhibited in the Prague Clementinum in 1919, and between 1920 and 1921 the epic reaped success in New York and Chicago. The whole epic was first exhibited in 1928 in the Trade Fair Palace in Prague and the paintings came under the administration of the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague.
In 1933, the canvases were deposited in a depository. In 1963 it was exhibited again at the castle in Moravský Krumlov. After 1989, however, the castle fell into disrepair. In 2011, the then management of Prague had the paintings taken away.