The grandson of Alphonse Mucha insists on a new pavilion for the epic

Prague - The grandson of Alfons Mucha, John, insists on the construction of a new pavilion, where the cycle of paintings The Slav Epic should be exhibited in Prague. He would also like the pavilion to be located either in Těšnov, Letná, Vítkov, or in the city center near the Old Town Square. This was stated by Prague councilor Milan Richter (ODS), who met with Mucha today. The relocation of the epic to the capital city may thus be postponed for several years.
    The paintings have been displayed at the castle in Moravský Krumlov for more than 45 years. Prague, to which Mucha dedicated the work, has long sought to relocate them to the metropolis, primarily considering placing them in the Exhibition Grounds. Due to uncertainties about where the work will be placed, the transfer has already been postponed several times.
    According to Richter, Mucha would like the new pavilion to house not only the epic but also the collections of the Alfons Mucha Museum and works from the so-called Bosnian pavilion. The building is also expected to include an auction house.
    The placement of the pavilion in one of the proposed locations will not be simple, according to Richter. "We first need to develop a volume study, and then we will see if the pavilion can fit somewhere," said the councilor. The city will also need to verify property relations or whether the construction would be in compliance with the zoning plan. According to Richter's estimate, all of this could take up to three years.
    The epic consists of 20 giant canvases depicting Slavic history. The owner of the Moravský Krumlov castle has been the same company Incheba since 2004, which rents the Exhibition Grounds to Prague. Krumlov rents the halls where the epic is displayed from Incheba. In the past, the company threatened to terminate the lease, but in the end, both parties reached an agreement. This year, heritage conservationists criticized the technical condition of the Renaissance castle, claiming that Krumlov ranks among the most neglected monuments in the South Moravian Region. Allegedly, only the halls housing the epic are maintained.