The court will decide in the dispute over the Slav Epic

Prague - The District Court for Prague 1 will today decide on the ownership dispute over the Slav Epic by Alfons Mucha. The main city of Prague possesses the paintings, but the painter's relative John Mucha claims in the lawsuit that the city has never become the owner of the cycle of paintings.

According to the lawsuit, Prague did not fulfill the author's condition to create separate exhibition spaces for the canvases. Mucha's legal representative stated last week that the condition to which the city committed remains valid. However, according to the city's representative, this is not a legal obligation that would condition the donation of the paintings.

The District Court began addressing Mucha's lawsuit in January 2017. At that time, it rejected it, and the appellate panel upheld the decision. However, the Supreme Court annulled the rulings last May. For the second time, the court began to resolve the lawsuit last November. Both parties then stated that they do not oppose negotiations for an amicable resolution. Mucha pointed out last week that negotiations have continued despite the court dispute.

The council of the main city approved on Monday that the Slav Epic will go to the castle in Moravský Krumlov for at least five years, where it will remain until Prague has its own building for it. The decision still needs to be confirmed by the city council. Prague still has no clear idea of where to build its own hall for the placement of the paintings, considering several options. According to Mucha, it would be appropriate to use the land next to the Lapidarium at the Exhibition Grounds, where a new building could be constructed.