Praha will let the study of possible locations for the Slav Epic be supplemented

Prague - The capital city will instruct its Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) to expand the previously developed study on the possibilities of placing the Slav Epic by Alfons Mucha. While the original document from 2017 only considered sites for new construction, the institute is now supposed to include existing buildings as well. This was announced today by the councilor for culture, Hana Třeštíková (Prague Together). According to her, the updated study should be completed by mid-year. The cycle of paintings is expected to travel to Moravský Krumlov for five years in the near future, although the exact moving date is not yet known.

The cycle consists of 20 large canvases, which Mucha painted over 18 years starting in 1910 and dedicated to Prague. Since 2010, the epic has been a cultural monument. The paintings are currently in the depositary of the Gallery of the Capital City (GHM).

Last year, the municipality organized a workshop on the topic of placing the epic with representatives from the city and experts. "Based on the November workshop, a request was sent to the IPR to update the older study," Třeštíková stated. IPR spokesman Marek Vácha told ČTK that the institute has not yet received an official assignment, but is counting on the update being completed in the first half of the year. The original study in 2017 recommended Těšnov as the most suitable site for new construction.

The city council approved in October last year that Prague would loan the cycle to the castle in Moravský Krumlov for five years, where the paintings were displayed until 2011. During the loan period, the issue of the missing space in Prague should be resolved. According to Třeštíková, GHM is now negotiating with the mayor of the town, Tomáš Třetina (TOP 09), about the contract. "I hope the date will be known soon," the councilor stated.

The director of GHM, Magdalena Juříková, told ČTK that the condition for the loan is the completion of the castle renovations. "Once the trial operation is completed and the measured values meet the required parameters, transportation and installation will be planned. All costs, including insurance, are covered by the borrower, i.e., the town of Moravský Krumlov," she added.

In the past, several locations were considered for the placement of the famous cycle. Under former mayor Pavel Bém (ODS), a plan was developed for a new building in the Výstaviště complex. This was abandoned, though former mayor Adriana Krnáčová (ANO) returned to the Výstaviště when she wanted to place the cycle in the renovated Lapidarium. However, the current coalition has halted the building's reconstruction plans. Based on a study from 2017, a new building in Těšnov was also considered, and in the past, proposals were made for a pavilion to be built in Letná. Prague 3 previously advocated for the Vítkov hill, while Prague 2 recently suggested placing the cycle in the former Vyšehrad train station, which belongs to a private owner. In 2011, there was also an idea to place the epic in the reconstructed Fantova building at the main train station.

Prague is facing a lawsuit from the painter's relative, John Mucha, who claims that the city never became the owner of the cycle because it did not fulfill the author's condition of building a separate exhibition space for the cycle. The court is expected to decide on the dispute this Wednesday.

The first 11 canvases of the epic were exhibited in 1919 at the Clementinum in Prague, and from 1920 to 1921 the epic gained success in New York and Chicago. The entire epic was first exhibited in 1928 at the Trade Fair Palace in Prague, and the paintings came under the administration of the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague. In 1933, the canvases were stored in a deposit. In 1963, they were exhibited again at the castle in Moravský Krumlov. However, after 1989, the castle fell into disrepair. In 2011, the paintings were removed by the then management of Prague.