In the Footsteps of Alphonse Mucha: The Slav Epic Exhibition at Klementinum, Prague

This narrative explores Alphonse Mucha's early artistic aspirations and his later figurative return to the Klementinum in Prague. It details his unsuccessful attempts to study at the Academy of Fine Arts and highlights an exhibition of his 'Slav Epic' paintings held in the Klementinum's summer refectory.

The Klementinum, specifically its eastern wing, served as the home for the Academy of Fine Arts from 1799 until 1886. It was during this period, in 1878, that an eighteen-year-old Alphonse Mucha applied to study at the Prague Academy. Despite presenting examples of his work, he received discouraging advice to pursue a different career. Undeterred, Mucha traveled to Prague and sought guidance from Academy Professor Antonín Lhota, but was again unsuccessful. Years later, by 1919, Mucha had achieved international renown. He figuratively returned to the Klementinum when an exhibition was held in its summer refectory, allowing the public to view five finished paintings from his 'Slav Epic' cycle for the first time. These included 'The Celebration of Svantovit in Rujana', 'The Abolition of Serfdom in Russia', and the 'Hussite Triptych: The Divination of the Word'. The premises of the summer refectory are currently utilized as the General Study Room of the National Library of the Czech Republic.