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"Most people believe that Hussites were frenzied ravagers of culture who never lifted a finger to create any monuments or indeed any artistic endeavours whatsoever", explained an exhibition co-director Kateřina Horníčková from the Institute of Philosophy of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. "We aim to shatter this myth and show the public that there were many superbly high quality artworks in Bohemia produced since the beginning of the Reformation."

Forefront martyrs return

The flames of radical thinking started stirring at the beginning of the Hussite movement. Its followers adamantly spurned any religious iconography as the graven false images of sinful idolatry. This was engraved in the second of the Ten Commandments - No graven image shall be made and worshipped. However, the beginning of the 15th century witnessed a change in the notoriously radical phase of the Hussite movement resulting in increasing momentum of iconic forms of art; many of which portrayed Christ and the foremost martyrs, even depicting Jan Hus as a saint. Unfortunately, most of the artworks didn’t survive the new period of catholicism after 1620 and were destroyed. A unique altar piece depicting Jan Hus in a bonfire was not discovered until 1961 and forms part of the collection displayed at this exhibition. 

Disunited Bohemia

The exhibition portrays the art and culture of the Utraquists as well as the Unity of the Brethren, Calvinists and German Protestants. The most significant are cultic pieces from Kutná Hora, paintings from the Týn Temple in Prague, as well as the artwork from Hradec Kralové, Chrudim, and other places. The illuminated manuscripts are also quite remarkable. Claudian’s map of Bohemia from 1518 is exhibited here for the first time. "This isn’t just a geographic map but rather an allegory of the political and religious situation in Bohemia," suggested K. Horníčková. There is a cart depicted in the centre of the map, being pulled by horses from opposite sides. "This tearing of the cart is a symbol of the enominational split of Bohemia - with Catholics on one side, and Utraquists on the other. From historical sources we now know that this allegory was for display in public buildings," emphasised K. Horníčková. The towns shown on the map bear a chalice symbol or Pater’s Keys depending on the type of faith they supported. The clergy status is mentioned in Göttingen Manuscript, an illuminated theological writing from Germany. 

Influences of world art

Kutna Hora was the second town of the Kingdom of Bohemia, and features a well-preserved altar piece The Assumption of the Virgin Mary as well as The Last Supper painting highly favoured by the Utraquists. "The Utraquists brought us the initial Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci shortly after its creation," said one of the trustees Michal Sronek from the Institute of History of Charles University.

Exceptional and continuous

The exhibition was inspired by the 400th anniversary of the Royal Publication on Religious Freedom by Rudolf II., and took three years to prepare. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the artwork hasn’t seen the public light of day for many years and according to K. Horníčková it will take another 50 to 100 years to happen again. The exhibition will be held until 4 April 2010 under the supervision of the Administration of Prague Castle. Its sponsors are the Czech president’s wife Livia Klausová, and Prague’s archbishop, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk. For more detail see http://www.kulturanahrade.cz/index.cfm?language=en.