Prague - Representatives of Prague will resume negotiations with the company Crestyl regarding the placement of the Slav Epic by Alfons Mucha. At the same time, they will be looking for other possible locations to display the cycle of paintings. Until such spaces are found, the canvases will remain exhibited in the castle in Moravský Krumlov. This was stated today by the mayor's deputy Jiří Pospíšil (TOP 09) to ČTK. The city suspended the search for a location for the epic due to a preliminary injunction issued last year by the District Court for Prague 1 at the request of the painter's granddaughter Jarmila Mucha Plocková. The court has now lifted the injunction following an appeal from Prague. The cycle consists of 20 large canvases that Mucha painted over 18 years starting in 1910.
"We will restart negotiations and the search for a location for the epic. Prague will negotiate with Crestyl, but at the same time will be looking for alternatives; it is not just blind pressure from our side to finalize the contract with Crestyl. It is still not decided where the epic will be. In the end, there must be a long-term solution that is beneficial and must be agreed upon by Mucha's family," said Pospíšil.
In addition to the future palace of Crestyl on Václavské náměstí, other potential locations include the Exhibition Grounds or the Holešovice market. However, according to Pospíšil, the spaces at the market have proven to be unsuitable. He also mentioned that there is consideration of a facility near Prague Castle, but he did not specify which building it is.
Until the capital finds spaces, the paintings will remain in the castle in Moravský Krumlov, according to the deputy. "I spoke informally with the mayor (Tomáš Třetina), and if Prague wanted to extend the contract, they reportedly have no problem with that in Krumlov," said Pospíšil. He indicated that the capital must avoid repeating what happened in the past - the canvases were brought in, but Prague did not have a suitable long-term exhibition space, and they ended up in storage for a time.
After completing the work, Mucha donated it to Prague on the condition that it would provide him with suitable exhibition spaces. The canvases are currently at the castle in Moravský Krumlov. The loan is now agreed until 2026.
The epic has been accompanied by long-standing disputes regarding its ownership. While the painter's relative John Mucha withdrew a lawsuit last year after an agreement with the city, the second heir, Jarmila Mucha Plocková, filed her own lawsuit to establish ownership. According to her, the agreement with John Mucha is unfavorable for the city and does not definitively resolve the ownership question of the epic. Through the preliminary injunction, she sought to ensure that Prague could not enter into a contract with Crestyl until the court resolves her lawsuit regarding the ownership.
The cycle Slav Epic consists of 20 large canvases. Permanent spaces for the Slav Epic have been sought in the capital since the beginning of the last century.
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