The title of the exhibition Biblioman (Bookworm) is a reference not only to František Kupka’s (1871–1957) eponymous crypto-self-portrait from the year 1897, but also to his lifelong searching and tireless and systematic study of science and the humanities, which influenced his progressive views of painting and his informed approach to illustrating historical texts. Kupka’s illustrations from the first half of the twentieth century and their place within the oeuvre of this ‘pioneer of abstraction’ form the main focus of this exhibition, which also presents an extensive set of fine press editions from the GASK collections within the context of works influenced by the classical tendencies found in his work in the first decade of the twentieth century.

In 2020, the centenary of the birth of one of the most distinctive Czech artists of the post-war generation, Stanislav Podhrázský (1920–1999), passed almost unnoticed – in part because of the limitations on cultural life resulting from the anti-Covid measures. According to Marie Klimešová, Podhrázský is one of just a few Czech artists who – had it not been for Communism – would undoubtedly have achieved European fame thanks to the unique and timeless nature of their work. His unusual lyrical form characterised by a distinctive sense of unease combines artistic trends of that period such as Surrealism, abstraction and New Figuration, while at the same time its spontaneous expression preserves Podhrázský’s characteristic personality.

An exclusive selection of rare cabinets from the collections of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, the National Heritage Institute, and regional and private collections

Cabinets from the 16th and 17th centuries are among the most interesting works in the history of craftsmanship. Their sophisticated decoration was only possible thanks to collaboration between many different specialists such as cabinetmakers, engravers, stonecutters, goldsmiths, sculptors and painters. A cabinet’s primary purpose was to serve as a repository for precious objects, and this, together with its exquisite craftsmanship, meant it departed from the usual categories of furniture making. It played a supreme role in the age of Mannerism and the Early Baroque, when as a “Kunstkammer en miniature” it became a work of art in its own right, representing the complex intellectual world of modern natural philosophy. At this time the cabinet began to be seen and appreciated as a precious collector’s item, an opulent showpiece that reflected its owner’s status.

Letos uběhne 300 let od smrti Jana Blažeje Santiniho Aichela, geniálního tvůrce evropského baroka. Národní technické muzeum ve spolupráci s odborníky z Univerzity Karlovy a Masarykovy univerzity v Brně připravilo k výročí výstavu, která tvorbu tohoto výjimečného architekta připomíná. Expozice provázená velkorysými fotografiemi Martina Micky návštěvníky seznámí nejen s nejslavnějšími Santiniho stavbami, ale také s postupy, které využíval při jejich navrhování a provádění. Bude zde možné zhlédnout téměř kompletní konvolut originálních Santiniho plánů, modely jeho staveb, dobové rytiny, obrazy a další zajímavosti, které dokreslují bohatý svět Santiniho architektury.

The title of the exhibition Biblioman (Bookworm) is a reference not only to František Kupka’s (1871–1957) eponymous crypto-self-portrait from the year 1897, but also to his lifelong searching and tireless and systematic study of science and the humanities, which influenced his progressive views of painting and his informed approach to illustrating historical texts. Kupka’s illustrations from the first half of the twentieth century and their place within the oeuvre of this ‘pioneer of abstraction’ form the main focus of this exhibition, which also presents an extensive set of fine press editions from the GASK collections within the context of works influenced by the classical tendencies found in his work in the first decade of the twentieth century.

In 2020, the centenary of the birth of one of the most distinctive Czech artists of the post-war generation, Stanislav Podhrázský (1920–1999), passed almost unnoticed – in part because of the limitations on cultural life resulting from the anti-Covid measures. According to Marie Klimešová, Podhrázský is one of just a few Czech artists who – had it not been for Communism – would undoubtedly have achieved European fame thanks to the unique and timeless nature of their work. His unusual lyrical form characterised by a distinctive sense of unease combines artistic trends of that period such as Surrealism, abstraction and New Figuration, while at the same time its spontaneous expression preserves Podhrázský’s characteristic personality.

An exclusive selection of rare cabinets from the collections of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, the National Heritage Institute, and regional and private collections

Cabinets from the 16th and 17th centuries are among the most interesting works in the history of craftsmanship. Their sophisticated decoration was only possible thanks to collaboration between many different specialists such as cabinetmakers, engravers, stonecutters, goldsmiths, sculptors and painters. A cabinet’s primary purpose was to serve as a repository for precious objects, and this, together with its exquisite craftsmanship, meant it departed from the usual categories of furniture making. It played a supreme role in the age of Mannerism and the Early Baroque, when as a “Kunstkammer en miniature” it became a work of art in its own right, representing the complex intellectual world of modern natural philosophy. At this time the cabinet began to be seen and appreciated as a precious collector’s item, an opulent showpiece that reflected its owner’s status.

Letos uběhne 300 let od smrti Jana Blažeje Santiniho Aichela, geniálního tvůrce evropského baroka. Národní technické muzeum ve spolupráci s odborníky z Univerzity Karlovy a Masarykovy univerzity v Brně připravilo k výročí výstavu, která tvorbu tohoto výjimečného architekta připomíná. Expozice provázená velkorysými fotografiemi Martina Micky návštěvníky seznámí nejen s nejslavnějšími Santiniho stavbami, ale také s postupy, které využíval při jejich navrhování a provádění. Bude zde možné zhlédnout téměř kompletní konvolut originálních Santiniho plánů, modely jeho staveb, dobové rytiny, obrazy a další zajímavosti, které dokreslují bohatý svět Santiniho architektury.

In 2020, the centenary of the birth of one of the most distinctive Czech artists of the post-war generation, Stanislav Podhrázský (1920–1999), passed almost unnoticed – in part because of the limitations on cultural life resulting from the anti-Covid measures. According to Marie Klimešová, Podhrázský is one of just a few Czech artists who – had it not been for Communism – would undoubtedly have achieved European fame thanks to the unique and timeless nature of their work. His unusual lyrical form characterised by a distinctive sense of unease combines artistic trends of that period such as Surrealism, abstraction and New Figuration, while at the same time its spontaneous expression preserves Podhrázský’s characteristic personality.

An exclusive selection of rare cabinets from the collections of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, the National Heritage Institute, and regional and private collections

Cabinets from the 16th and 17th centuries are among the most interesting works in the history of craftsmanship. Their sophisticated decoration was only possible thanks to collaboration between many different specialists such as cabinetmakers, engravers, stonecutters, goldsmiths, sculptors and painters. A cabinet’s primary purpose was to serve as a repository for precious objects, and this, together with its exquisite craftsmanship, meant it departed from the usual categories of furniture making. It played a supreme role in the age of Mannerism and the Early Baroque, when as a “Kunstkammer en miniature” it became a work of art in its own right, representing the complex intellectual world of modern natural philosophy. At this time the cabinet began to be seen and appreciated as a precious collector’s item, an opulent showpiece that reflected its owner’s status.

Letos uběhne 300 let od smrti Jana Blažeje Santiniho Aichela, geniálního tvůrce evropského baroka. Národní technické muzeum ve spolupráci s odborníky z Univerzity Karlovy a Masarykovy univerzity v Brně připravilo k výročí výstavu, která tvorbu tohoto výjimečného architekta připomíná. Expozice provázená velkorysými fotografiemi Martina Micky návštěvníky seznámí nejen s nejslavnějšími Santiniho stavbami, ale také s postupy, které využíval při jejich navrhování a provádění. Bude zde možné zhlédnout téměř kompletní konvolut originálních Santiniho plánů, modely jeho staveb, dobové rytiny, obrazy a další zajímavosti, které dokreslují bohatý svět Santiniho architektury.

An exclusive selection of rare cabinets from the collections of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, the National Heritage Institute, and regional and private collections

Cabinets from the 16th and 17th centuries are among the most interesting works in the history of craftsmanship. Their sophisticated decoration was only possible thanks to collaboration between many different specialists such as cabinetmakers, engravers, stonecutters, goldsmiths, sculptors and painters. A cabinet’s primary purpose was to serve as a repository for precious objects, and this, together with its exquisite craftsmanship, meant it departed from the usual categories of furniture making. It played a supreme role in the age of Mannerism and the Early Baroque, when as a “Kunstkammer en miniature” it became a work of art in its own right, representing the complex intellectual world of modern natural philosophy. At this time the cabinet began to be seen and appreciated as a precious collector’s item, an opulent showpiece that reflected its owner’s status.

Letos uběhne 300 let od smrti Jana Blažeje Santiniho Aichela, geniálního tvůrce evropského baroka. Národní technické muzeum ve spolupráci s odborníky z Univerzity Karlovy a Masarykovy univerzity v Brně připravilo k výročí výstavu, která tvorbu tohoto výjimečného architekta připomíná. Expozice provázená velkorysými fotografiemi Martina Micky návštěvníky seznámí nejen s nejslavnějšími Santiniho stavbami, ale také s postupy, které využíval při jejich navrhování a provádění. Bude zde možné zhlédnout téměř kompletní konvolut originálních Santiniho plánů, modely jeho staveb, dobové rytiny, obrazy a další zajímavosti, které dokreslují bohatý svět Santiniho architektury.

Letos uběhne 300 let od smrti Jana Blažeje Santiniho Aichela, geniálního tvůrce evropského baroka. Národní technické muzeum ve spolupráci s odborníky z Univerzity Karlovy a Masarykovy univerzity v Brně připravilo k výročí výstavu, která tvorbu tohoto výjimečného architekta připomíná. Expozice provázená velkorysými fotografiemi Martina Micky návštěvníky seznámí nejen s nejslavnějšími Santiniho stavbami, ale také s postupy, které využíval při jejich navrhování a provádění. Bude zde možné zhlédnout téměř kompletní konvolut originálních Santiniho plánů, modely jeho staveb, dobové rytiny, obrazy a další zajímavosti, které dokreslují bohatý svět Santiniho architektury.