Slav Epic arrives in Prague

Some of Alfons Mucha's Slav Epic will go on display in Prague as soon as March, as the mayor from the town that has long housed the 20-painting series expressed exasperation at the latest developments in an ongoing struggle.  

Mucha, the famed Art Nouveau painter, gifted the works depicting the history of the Slovak and Czech people to the City of Prague in 1928 with the condition that city officials construct a suitable venue for the collection. This was never done, and the works have been in Moravský Krumlov, Mucha's hometown, since 1950 and on display in a chateau since 1963.

Dispute over the condition of the aforementioned chateau and the desire for the paintings to be displayed in Prague's National Gallery prompted a long-running battle between Prague officials, Moravský Krumlov and the Mucha family. In recent days, five of the paintings were under examination in Prague by art restoration experts.

They are slated to soon go on display at the National Gallery's Veletržní palác, with the remaining 15 paintings to arrive in the fall.

"I do not agree with its moving to Prague, and according to expert opinions, [the examination of the paintings by preservationists] could have taken place in Krumlov," said Moravský Krumlov Mayor Tomáš Třetina.

Last year, the Mucha family sought to prevent the Slav Epic from being relocated to Prague's National Gallery in Prague Municipal Court citing the failure by the city to follow through on a pledge to build a specific home for Mucha's work. Judges rejected an injunction application.

A series of dramatic events followed with citizens in Moravský Krumlov helping to block the transport of the works. Eventually a court ruling and a compromise between Prague and Moravský Krumlov officials concluded that Prague would display the works starting in the fall of 2011 for two years while Moravský Krumlov seeks to refurbish its chateau.

"We are consulting the funding for the reconstruction with Culture Ministry," Třetina said.

The collection will remain split between to two cities until the fall.

"The [other] 15 canvases will be displayed in Krumlov in the summer season and then brought back to Prague, because Prague wants them since they are endangered over there," Michaela Moučková, spokeswoman for the Prague City Gallery, the official owner of the paintings.

Prague City Councilor for Culture and Tourism Lukáš Kaucký says the city "plans to lend the Slav Epic to Krumlov again in the future if adequate reconstruction of the exhibition premises takes place."

- Klára Jiřičná contributed to this report.

Benjamin Cunningham can be reached at
bcunningham@praguepost.com