The Slav Epic

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Alphonse Mucha working on the cycle in 1920.
Mucha's The Slav Epic in the National Gallery of Prague

The Slav Epic (Czech: Slovanská epopej) is a cycle of 20 large canvases painted by Czech Art Nouveau painter Alphonse Mucha between 1910 and 1928. The cycle depicts the mythology and history of Czechs and other Slavic peoples. In 1928, after finishing his monumental work, Mucha bestowed the cycle upon the city of Prague on condition that the city build a special pavilion for it.[1][2] Prior to 2012, the work was a part of the permanent exhibition at the chateau in the town of Moravský Krumlov in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. In 2012, all 20 works were moved and displayed together on the ground floor of the Veletržní Palace till 2016, in an exhibition organized by the National Gallery in Prague (exhibition catalogue: Alphonse Mucha – Slovanská epopej).[3] The works are currently not on display, waiting for a new location to be completed in Prague.[4]

Background

The Slav Epic 1930 exhibition poster

Alphonse Mucha spent many years working on The Slav Epic cycle, which he considered his life's masterwork. He had dreamed of completing such a series, a celebration of Slavic history, since the turn of the 20th century; however, his plans were limited by financial constraints. In 1909, he managed to obtain grants by an American philanthropist and keen admirer of the Slavic culture, Charles Richard Crane.[5] He began by visiting the places he intended to depict in the cycle: Russia, Poland and the Balkans, including the Orthodox monasteries of Mount Athos. Additionally, he consulted historians regarding details of historical events in order to ensure an accurate depiction. In 1910, he rented part of the castle in Zbiroh and began working on the series.[6]

Mucha continued working on the cycle for 18 years, gradually submitting paintings to the city of Prague as he completed them. In 1919, the first part of the series comprising eleven canvases was displayed in the Prague's Clementinum. In his opening speech, Mucha stated:

"the mission of the Epic is not completed. Let it announce to foreign friends – and even to enemies – who we were, who we are, and what we hope for. May the strength of the Slav spirit command their respect, because from respect, love is born."[7]

In 1921, five of the paintings were shown in New York and Chicago to great public acclaim.[8]

In 1928, the complete cycle was displayed for the first time in the Trade Fair Palace in Prague, the Czechoslovak capital.

Alphonse Mucha died in July, 1939. Shortly before his death he was interrogated by the Gestapo, as he was an important exponent of public life in Czechoslovakia.[9] During World War II, the Slav Epic was wrapped and hidden away to prevent seizure by the Nazis.[2]

Following the Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948 and subsequent communist takeover of the country, Mucha was considered a decadent and bourgeois artist, estranged from the ideals of socialist realism.[10] The building of a special pavilion for the exposition of the Slav Epic cycle became irrelevant and unimportant for the new communist regime.[10] After the war, the paintings were moved to the chateau at Moravský Krumlov by a group of local patriots, and the cycle went on display there in 1963.[2]

Controversy

The city of Prague has waged a decade-long legal battle over the work which intensified in early 2010.[2] Much consideration has been given to relocating the Slav Epic from Moravský Krumlov (where it had been displayed for almost 50 years), to Prague. The hope was that Prague, a city frequented by many thousands of tourists, would attract increased attention to the series of paintings. However, there is no suitable space for the work in Prague's galleries. Therefore, some Czech state institutions, such as the Office of the President of the Czech Republic,[11] found it preferable to leave the paintings in their current location since there have been few problems there.[12][13] Nevertheless, in early 2010, the city of Prague requested the return of the Slav Epic for restoration work and subsequent display.[14] However, the Mucha Foundation, run by the artist's grandson John Mucha and his mother Geraldine, blocked the move as it would simply be a provisional measure.[2] The City of Prague argued that not Alphonse Mucha but Charles R. Crane was the owner of the paintings and that he has donated the cycle to the City of Prague. According to the newspaper Mladá fronta DNES, the information was proved by contracts found in the city archives.[5] The Foundation is in talks with the City of Prague for the construction of a permanent home for the work.[2]

On 25 July 2010, over a thousand people gathered in Moravský Krumlov to protest the planned move of The Slav Epic from the town.[15]

After a two-year dispute between Prague and the Moravian town of Moravský Krumlov, the renowned cycle of 20 monumental canvases was—in a move protested by conservationists and art historians alike—taken for display at the National Gallery's Veletržní Palace in 2012 and remained there until the end of 2016.[16] In 2018, nine of the canvases of The Slav Epic were shown in Brno during the RE:PUBLIKA Festival.[17] The exhibition combined two opposing worlds of renowned Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha’s works – the majestic Slav Epic and a unique collection of posters.[18]

List of paintings

The work consists of 20 paintings, up to six metres tall and eight metres wide.[2]

# Image Title Subtitle Representing location (present day) and period Year of completion Dimensions
1 Slovane v pravlasti 81x61m.jpg Slavs in their Original Homeland Between the Turanian Whip and the Sword of the Goths Undefined 1912 8.10 × 6.10 m
2 Slavnost svatovitova na rujane.jpg The Celebration of Svantovit When Gods Are at War, Salvation is in the Arts Rügen, Germany 1912 8.10 × 6.10 m
3 Zavedeni slovanske liturgie na velke morave.jpg The Introduction of the Slavonic Liturgy Praise the Lord in Your Native Tongue Czech Republic, 9th century 1912 8.10 × 6.10 m
4 Car Simeon Bulharsky - Alfons Mucha.jpg The Bulgarian Tsar Simeon The Morning Star of Slavonic Literature Bulgaria, 10th century 1923 4.80 × 4.05 m
5 Premysl otakar ii kral zelezny a zlaty.jpg The Bohemian King Přemysl Otakar II The Union of Slavic Dynasties Czech Republic, 13th century 1924 4.80 × 4.05 m
6 Coronation of Emperor Dušan, in "The Slavonic Epic" (1926).jpg The Coronation of the Serbian Tsar Stefan Dušan as East Roman Emperor The Slavic Code of Law Skopje, Balkans, 14th century 1926 4.05 × 4.80 m
7 Jan milic z kromerize.jpg Jan Milíč of Kroměříž A Brothel Converted to a Convent Czech Republic, 14th century 1916 4.05 × 6.20 m
8 Kazani mistra jana husa v kapli betlemske 81x61m.jpg Master Jan Hus Preaching at the Bethlehem Chapel Truth Prevails Czech Republic, 15th century 1916 8.10 × 6.10 m
9 Mucha Na Krizku.jpg The Meeting at Křížky Utraquism (Hussitism) Czech Republic, 15th century 1916 4.05 × 6.20 m
10 After the Battle of Grunwald - Alfons Mucha.jpg After the Battle of Grunwald The Solidarity of the Northern Slavs Poland, 15th century 1924 6.10 × 4.05 m
11 Po bitvě na Vítkově.jpg After the Battle of Vítkov Hill God Represents Truth, Not Power Czech Republic, 15th century 1923 4.80 × 4.05 m
12 Petr chelcicky.jpg Petr Chelčický at Vodňany Do Not Repay Evil with Evil Czech Republic, 15th century 1918 6.20 × 4.05 m
13 Mucha Jiri z Podebrad.jpg The Hussite King Jiří of Poděbrady Treaties Are to Be Observed Czech Republic, 15th century 1923 4.80 × 4.05 m
14 Mucha defense of Szigetvar.jpg Defense of Sziget against the Turks by Nicholas Zrinsky The Shield of Christendom Hungary, 16th century 1914 8.10 × 6.10 m
15 Mucha Skola Ivancice.jpg The Printing of the Bible of Kralice in Ivančice God Gave Us a Gift of Language Czech Republic, 16th century 1914 8.10 × 6.10 m
16 Mucha Komenius.jpg The Last days of Jan Amos Komenský [Comenius] in Naarden A Flicker of Hope Netherlands, 17th century 1918 6.20 × 4.05 m
17 Mucha, Alfons - Der Heilige Berg Athos - 1926.jpg Holy Mount Athos Sheltering the Oldest Orthodox Literary Treasures Greece 1926 4.80 × 4.05 m
18 Mucha Omladina.jpg The Oath of Omladina Under the Slavic Linden Tree The Slavic Revival Czech Republic, 19th century 1926 4.80 × 4.05 m
19 Mucha Zruseni nevolnictvi.jpg The Abolition of Serfdom in Russia Work in Freedom is the Foundation of a State Russia, 19th century 1914 8.10 × 6.10 m
20 Mucha Apoteoza.jpg Apotheosis of the Slavs Slavs for Humanity Undefined 1926 4.05 × 4.80 m

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Expats.cz. On the Mucha trail in Prague: From ceilings to stained glass, discovering the artist’s legacy. 24 July 2020.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Mucha, Jiri (1966). Alphonse Maria Mucha: His Life and Art. p. 269.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Muchova Slovanská epopej do Prahy zatím nepřesídlí; Týden.cz (in Czech)
  13. ↑ Muchova Slovanská epopej stále nemá v Praze místo, další jednání se chystá na říjen; iDnes.cz (in Czech)
  14. ↑ Loss of Mucha art work likely to hit small Moravian town hard; Radio.cz
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Further reading

External links

Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons

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