The mayor of Moravský Krumlov believes that Prague will lend the epic back

Moravský Krumlov - The mayor of Moravský Krumlov, Tomáš Třetina (TOP 09), is pleased with the recommendation of the Culture Committee of the Prague City Hall to lend Mucha's Epic back to Moravia. He told ČTK today that he never intended for the epic to be permanently placed in the castle in Moravský Krumlov.

"All our negotiations with Prague have always only discussed a loan. We respect the wishes of Alfons Mucha, who dedicated his work to Prague, and of course we account for the fact that as soon as Prague has suitable space, the epic will be moved there and will stay there permanently," Třetina said.

He reacted to the outcome of today’s meeting of the Culture Committee of the Prague City Hall, which recommended to the city council with a narrow majority to approve the loan of the Slavonic Epic by Alfons Mucha to the castle in Moravský Krumlov.

The paintings were exhibited in Krumlov from the 1950s until 2011, when the then leadership of the capital city had them transported to Prague.

The cycle of paintings consists of 20 large canvases that Mucha painted from 1910 over the next 18 years and dedicated to Prague. Since 2010, the epic has been a cultural monument. The paintings are now in the depositary of the Gallery of the Capital City (GHM).

"The main factor is that this is the fastest solution. Moravský Krumlov has long declared that the paintings could be exhibited as early as next summer. For me, time plays the most significant role," said councilor Hana Třeštíková (Prague Sobě). The committee voted in favor of the recommendation with a ratio of six to five, with representatives of ODS and ANO opposing it, along with Jan Wolf (KDU-ČSL).

The castle in Moravský Krumlov has prepared spaces for the epic, where it was previously exhibited. It only needs to equip the area with security and temperature regulation. "There is also money prepared for the technical support security for 30 million. We could prepare the spaces for the epic in six months," Třetina stated some time ago.

The first 11 canvases of the epic were exhibited in 1919 in Prague at Klementinum and between 1920 and 1921 enjoyed success at exhibitions in New York and Chicago. The entire epic was first exhibited in 1928 at the Palace of Industry in Prague, and the paintings came under the management of the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague. In 1933, the canvases were rolled up and stored in a depository. It was not until 1963 that the gallery exhibited them at the castle in Moravský Krumlov.