Prague has selected three properties owned by the city for Mucha's Epic

Prague - The leadership of Prague has identified three properties owned by the city where the Slav Epic by Alfons Mucha could potentially be placed. This was stated today by councilor Hana Třeštíková (Prague Together) during a meeting of the municipal committee for culture and tourism. She did not want to disclose which buildings they are. The city is also negotiating with the owners of the castle in Zbraslav and discussing a possible loan of the canvases with Moravský Krumlov. The paintings were displayed there from the 1950s until 2011.

The cycle of paintings consists of 20 large canvases that Mucha painted from 1910 over the next 18 years and dedicated to Prague. They are currently stored in a depository. The paintings, inspired by Slavic mythology and the history of the Czech nation, have been listed as cultural monuments since 2010.

"I apologize for not being more specific, but the situation is dynamic and changing," said Třeštíková. In the coming weeks, there will be visits to two of the identified properties.

Třeštíková mentioned that she is also in talks with representatives of the Bartoň family from Dobenín, the owners of the castle in Zbraslav. According to her, they have expressed interest in exhibiting the paintings. However, there are several issues associated with the castle in Zbraslav, such as a lack of parking, necessary modifications around the castle, or the fact that the estate is privately owned. "We should operate with this fact. This is the first problem on the potential path," she said.

Committee members today discussed the possibility of temporarily loaning the canvases to Moravský Krumlov. The proposal was brought forth by the leadership of Prague this February. Some representatives from ODS opposed it. Former mayor Bohuslav Svoboda (ODS) stated that Prague has an obligation to keep the canvases in the capital, and that obligation stands. "We represent Prague, and it is our duty to fulfill that promise. If we have a work that transcends the borders of this country, we must take care of it," Svoboda said. According to him, only Prague is capable of presenting the work in a way that would have an impact abroad.

The mayor of Moravský Krumlov, Tomáš Třetina (TOP 09), said at the meeting that Krumlov is asking Prague for a favor to temporarily exhibit the epic in the Krumlov castle. "We did not come to fight. You cannot imagine how people in Krumlov perceive the epic; they see it as their own," Třetina said. He also mentioned that the city purchased the castle in 2016, wants to renovate it, and has applied for a grant. The exhibition spaces, where the epic would be displayed, have already been renovated. "The Moravský Krumlov castle is ready for the temporary exhibition of the Slav Epic," he said.

Prague has been searching for a suitable place for the paintings for years. The canvases were moved from the castle in Moravský Krumlov to Prague in 2010. Among other things, the construction of a new building in Letná or Těšnov was planned. The last administration of the capital proposed placing the paintings in the planned extension of the Lapidarium building at the Exhibition Grounds.