As we can say that Prague is a heart of Europe, so we can say that Prague is a cradle of various art from mediaeval to present. We can meet it on almost each step throughout the city (especially the centre). There are many museums and galleries, which is necessary to see, when you are in town. This can be a short guide, which can be useful for you, when you are in Prague and don’t know where to go.
Recommendation: It is great plan in case it rains and you don't want to stay in your hotel all day long.
Today we will focus on exhibition spaces within The National Gallery in Prague
This important institution owns and presents the largest collection of paintings, sculpture and graphics art in Prague. The National Gallery's primary principle is elevation of the nation's spirit through art. Collection is spread over eight architectonically significant buildings.
Schwarzenberg palace (Schwarzenbergsky palac)
Baroque in Bohemia
On March 28, 2008 there was opened the new permanent exhibition of Czech Baroque art. It`s the unique selection of art collections, dating from different periods, located in the place of Prague Castle.
Sculpture: Matyáš Bernard Braun, Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokof etc.
Painting: Hans von Aachen, Bartholomaeo Spranger, Roelant Savery, Michael Willmann, Jan Kryštof Liška, Václav Vavrinec Reiner, Anton Kern, Norbert Grund etc.
What is noteworthy and should not be missed: expositions of Petr Brandl, Karel Škréta and Jan Kupecký
Sternberg Palace (Sternbernsky palac)
European Art from the Classical Era to the Close of the Baroque
This Baroque palace was built between 1697 and 1707 for Count Wenceslas Adalbert of Sternberg, according to a design by G. B. Alliprandi. At the end of the 19th century, the palace became an asylum for mentally defective people. It was used by the army during the World War Two and it served as a barracks of Prague Castle Guard in 1945.
Painting: Tintoretto, Rubens, Ribera, Tiepolo, El Greco, Goya, van Dyck, Rembrandt, Hals, Ruysdael and van Goyen.
What is noteworthy and should not be missed: The Feast of the Rosary by Albrecht Dürer - one of the most famous works of the European painting
St George's Convent (Klaster sv. Jiri)
19th-century Art in Bohemia (1790-1910)
St George’s Convent is the oldest convent in Bohemia. It was founded near the Old Royal Palace in 973 by Prince Boleslav II and his sister Mlada and given to the Benedictines.
St George’s Convent is located between St George’s Basilica, one of the most significant Romanesque building, Jirska street and Prague Castle’s fortification.
Sculpture and painting: Skreta, Kupecky, Rainer, Brokoff, Braun, Hans von Aachen, Joseph Heintz, Bartolomeus Spranger and Adrian de Vries.
Kinsky Palace (Palac Kinskych)
Landscape in Czech Art of the 19th Century
Goltz - Kinsky Palace was built under the project Anselmo Lurago or K. I. Dientzenhofer (the dispute on authorship). It was build for Jan Arnost Goltz in 1755-65.
The palace is connected with the names of some important and famous people. Austrian writer, baroness Bertha von Suttner, who was as the first person awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1905, was born in Goltz – Kinsky Palace in 1843. The palace used to serve as a German speaking grammar school that was attended by Franz Kafka.
Convent of St Agnes of Bohemia (Klaster sv. Anezky Ceske)
Medieval Art in Bohemia and Central Europe
The first convent for nuns of the order of St Clare north of the Alps, founded around the year 1232 by St Agnes of Bohemia, daughter of King Premysl Otakar I. Building was (one of the first in Bohemia) built in the style of Cistercian-Burgundian Gothic.
Exhibition consist of: Czech Gothic Art, German and Austrian Art, Slovak art works or mediaeval artisan trade and covers the period from 1200 to 1550
Zbraslav Chateau (Zamek Zbraslav)
Asian Art
The Zbraslav chateau, originally a Cistercian monastery founded by king Wenceslas II in 1292, was one of the most architecturally imposing buildings of its kind built during the 14th century. The buildings acquired their contemporary form at the beginning of 20th century
Permanent exhibition of asian art: Japanese art, Chinese art, Indian art, Southeast Asian art, Tibetan art, Islamic art
Trade Fair Palace (Veletrzni palac)
Art of the 20th and 21st Centuries
Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art
Collection of 19th century and 20th century art
The Trade Fair Palace (Veletrzní palác) is the largest collection of modern and contemporary arts in Prague, presented on six floors inside a marvelous Functionalism style building.
The building was constructed after a design by Oldrich Tyl and Josef Fuchs in the years 1925-1929. In 1974 the functionalist structure was destroyed by fire. Since its reconstruction in 1995, the building has housed the National Gallery's collections of modern and contemporary art. Since 2000 it has also been the home of the 19th century collection.
House at the Black Madonna (Dum U Cerne Matky Bozi)
Museum of the Czech Cubism
House at the Black Madonna, unique cubist building, designed by Josef Gocar, was built in 1911-1912 at the point, where Celetná St. meets Ovocný trh..
The house of the Black Madonna is the host of the Czech Cubist Museum, exhibiting works of Czech Cubism since its beginnings to the mid 50`s of the 20th century.
Painting: Emil Filla, Bohumil Kubišta, Vincenc Beneš, Josef Čapek, Antonín Procházka, Václav SpAla, Jan Zrzavý, Otakar Nejedlý etc.
Sculptures: Otto Gutfreund etc.
Recommendation: Visit a historic Grand Café Orient - excellent coffee, unique interior and very specific atmosphere.
All exhibitions at the National Gallery in Prague are open daily, except Mondays, from 10:00 - 18:00.
Expositions of the National Gallery (Národní galerie):
www.ngprague.cz
