The Slavic Epic should be on display in Moravský Krumlov in July

Moravský Krumlov – The Slav Epic by Alphonse Mucha could be on display at the castle in Moravský Krumlov as early as July. The mayor of Moravský Krumlov, Tomáš Třetina, told ČTK today. The loan agreement for the artwork was approved by the leadership of Prague today. According to Třetina, the transport of the large canvases will be carried out in three stages, no later than within four weeks. The representatives of Moravský Krumlov approved the loan this afternoon, Třetina told ČTK before 6:00 PM; the Prague representatives still have to do the same. Moravský Krumlov has modified the castle for the epic at a cost of 58 million crowns.

The Prague council today recommended that the city council approve the loan agreement, and according to Třetina, the council of the capital city will decide on Thursday. "Once everything is approved, the moving can take place. A moving company will handle it. We already have the spaces prepared and ready," said Třetina.

The transport will not happen all at once. "It will take place in three stages, but it won't be a matter of a month, rather two to three weeks, at most four. We want to have the epic as soon as possible," the mayor stated. The city ensured suitable conditions for the epic, which is why it modified the castle for 58 million, a condition for the loan. Out of that, 43 million was covered by a grant from the state, ten million was provided by the region, and the rest by the city. According to the mayor, there will be a reservation system and standard conditions for visiting the galleries at the castle. Třetina has not yet disclosed the admission fee.

The cycle consists of 20 large canvases that Mucha painted over 18 years starting in 1910. The first 11 canvases of the epic were exhibited in 1919 at the Clementinum in Prague, and from 1920 to 1921, they enjoyed success at exhibitions 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 rolled up and stored in a depository.

It wasn't until 1963 that they were exhibited again at the castle in Moravský Krumlov. From there, the former leadership of Prague had them removed more than ten years ago, which the councilors justified at the time by the poor condition of the Moravský Krumlov castle, which threatened the artwork. After that, the canvases were alternately in the Trade Fair Palace in Prague, in storage, or loaned abroad.