Old Masters II Exhibition: Discover Centuries of European Art in Prague

The 'Old Masters II' exhibition complements the permanent collection with a follow-up presentation of magnificent artwork. It features unique collections such as Russian Christian icons, Italian paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries, and extensive Dutch and Flemish art from the 15th to 18th centuries.

This exhibition, 'Old Masters II,' serves as a follow-up to the permanent Old Masters exhibition, presenting a complementary set of magnificent artworks within different contexts. It highlights the National Gallery in Prague's unique collections and those of its partners, notably a rare collection of Russian Christian icons preserved in Prague, linked to their collector, Nikodim P. Kondakov. The exhibition also displays a significant collection of Italian paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries, often referred to as the 'primitive school,' gathered mostly by Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, representing the largest such collection outside of Italy and exploring artistic creations in cities like Siena, Florence, Venice, and Padua. Further enriching the display are Renaissance and Baroque paintings by artists such as Alessandro Allori, Jacopo Bassano, and Luca Giordano. The exhibition also features extraordinary collections of Dutch and Flemish painting from the 15th to 18th centuries, with a focus on the art of Antwerp, Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Leyden, including works by Herri met de Bles, Pieter II. Brueghel, Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, Rachel Ruysch, Gerard Ter Borch, and Nicolaes Eliasz. Pickenoy. A rare highlight is the altar with 'The Crucifixion' by Hans Raphon, the only fully preserved retable of the Passion of the Christ in public collections in the Czech Republic. Central European works, including Nuremberg art and pieces from the Rhineland region dating back to the 15th to 18th centuries by artists like Hans Baldung Grien and Hans Dürer, are also represented, alongside German and Austrian art from the 17th and 18th centuries. A smaller but notable collection of French and Spanish art from the 17th and 18th centuries includes significant solitary pieces by artists such as Charles Mellin, Pierre Mignard, and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.