Prague, Feb 14 (CTK) – The Slav Epic by Czech Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha (1860-1939) will not return to the National Gallery (NG) in Prague after being displayed in Asian countries, councillor for culture Jan Wolf has said in an interview with CTK.
The cycle of 23 giant paintings depicting the ancient history of the Slavs will be on display on the NG premises in Veletrzni palace by the end of the year.
The Prague City Hall management is looking for a suitable place where the paintings can be stored after they return from Asia.
One possibility is to use some of the historical palaces that the city owns. However, their return to Moravsky Krumlov, south Moravia, or the construction of a new gallery for the cycle in Prague-Letna are also being discussed, Wolf (Three-Party Coalition/Christian Democrats, KDU-CSL) said.
“Visitors can see the cycle by Alfons Mucha by the end of 2016,” NG spokeswoman Tereza Jezkova said.
The contract on displaying the Slav Epic expires in February 2017. Then it will be sent to an exhibition in Japan and later to China. Prague is also negotiation about loaning the cycle to South Korea and Chicago.
“Mucha’s Epic will be touring Asia for about two years,” Wolf said.
Mucha’s works might attract more tourists from Asia to Prague, he added.
However, the fate of the painting, which enjoy the status of national cultural heritage, after their return from Asia is still uncertain.
The cycle of Mucha’s paintings moved to Prague from a chateau in Moravsky Krumlov, south Moravia, where it was on display for decades, in 2012. The transport stirred up protests of the Moravsky Krumlov Town Hall, the South Moravia Regional Office as well as Alfons Mucha ́s grandson John Mucha and thousands of other people.
Prague considers the cycle its property since Mucha gave it to the capital on condition it builds a new pavilion for it. However, the Mucha family claims that the donation is not legally effective since Prague has not met this condition.
