NATIONAL GALLERY PRAGUE

Description

Essentials about the National Gallery Prague in brief

For art lovers of all stripes, a visit to the National Gallery Prague (cz. “Národní galerie v Praze”) is an absolute must during a trip to the Czech capital. With thousands and thousands of works of painting, sculpture and graphics, both domestic and foreign, the National Gallery Prague is the most important art museum in the Czech Republic. The collection of the National Gallery is spread over several historical buildings dedicated to different art periods and trends.

The history of the National Gallery Prague

Historically, the National Gallery dates back to the Society of Patriotic Friends of Art. The association was made up of representatives of the patriotically-minded Bohemian nobility and members of the enlightened middle classes. In 1796 it founded a picture gallery, which became the forerunner of today’s National Gallery.

In 1902 the gallery was extended by the Royal Bohemian Collection as a foundation of Emperor Franz Joseph I. In 1918, the collection of the Society of Patriotic Friends of Art was transferred to the newly established Czechoslovak state and declared the National Gallery. From 1919 onwards it was developed into a modern and prestigious gallery through further acquisitions.

The buildings of the National Gallery Prague

The collection of the National Gallery Prague is spread over several historical buildings dedicated to different eras and art movements. These are:

Agnes Monastery

The Monastery of St. Agnes of Bohemia (cz. “Anežský klášter”) in Prague’s old town is one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Prague. Accordingly, the monastery premises are the appropriate setting for the exhibition of medieval and early Renaissance art. On display are paintings, sculptures and handicrafts from three centuries from Central European countries with a focus on Bohemia.

Exhibition Palace

Covering an area of more than 13,000 square meters, the Exhibition Palace (cz. “Veletržní palác”) houses modern and contemporary art. The more than 2,000 exhibits of painting, sculpture, fashion, architecture, graphics, design, stage design and photography give a comprehensive picture of art from the 19th to the 21st century. Among the artists on display are world stars such as Marc Chagall, Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, Joan Miró, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso, Egon Schiele and Vincent van Gogh.

Goltz-Kinsky Palace

Goltz-Kinsky Palace (cz. “Palác Goltz-Kinských”), located directly on Old Town Square, is one of the most beautiful rococo buildings in Prague and houses the graphic collection of the National Gallery, which is presented in special exhibitions. At present, the palace also exhibits the collection of antique, oriental and Asian art.

Salm Palace

Right next to Schwarzenberg Palace on Hradcany Square is the smaller Salm Palace (cz. “Salmovský palác”). The neoclassical city palace is therefore often referred to as “Little Schwarzenberg”. Salm Palace houses 19th-century works of art from Bohemia and Moravia.

Schwarzenberg Palace

The building of Schwarzenberg Palace (cz. “Schwarzenberský palác”) on Hradcany Square is also one of the most beautiful buildings in Prague. In the beautiful Renaissance palace are exhibited works of the Bohemian Baroque.

Sternberg Palace

Sternberg Palace (cz. “Šternberský palác”) houses the Old Masters Gallery. European works from antiquity to the Baroque are exhibited here. The exhibition includes works by some of the greatest masters in the history of European art, including Cranach, Dürer, Goya, Greco, Rembrandt, Rubens and Tintoretto. In addition, the palace houses a unique collection of icons. Sternberg Palace itself is also definitely worth a look. The palace with its park annex dates back to the beginnings of the Bohemian High Baroque.

Other exhibition venues

In addition to the aforementioned, the National Gallery Prague has four other exhibition venues. These are the Riding Hall of the Wallenstein Palace and St. George’s Monastery, which are used for short exhibitions. Furthermore, in Žďár Monastery there is an exhibition of Baroque painting and sculpture. And in Fryštát Castle Czech art of the 19th century is presented.