"allegory Of The Graphic Arts" By Ferd. Hercik (born 1861), Museum Of Applied Arts In Prague

This large allegorical painting, featuring artistic figures as symbols of the arts, is located on the Karlov Bridge in Prague. This monumental painting was created in 1901 by the famous Czech artist Ferdinand Hercik (1861, Třeboň – 1923, Prague). He studied at the Prague Academy of Fine Arts under M. Pirner, V. Brozik, and V. Hynais, and later in Paris. From 1905 onward, he served as a professor in Brno. He held a solo exhibition in Brno in 1922. It is well known that he decorated the Museum of Applied Arts in Prague with large allegorical panels. We received a letter from this museum (signed by the expert Mr. Petr Stembera) confirming that our monumental work is a large study for one of its six immense paintings on the museum’s staircase, created in 1901–1904/1905. with the original title “Graphics /Graphic Art/”.

Bibliography: H. Vollmer, “Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler,” Vol. 2, Leipzig, 1955; Professor Prokop Toman, “Novy Slovnik ceskoslovenskych vytvarnych umelcu,” Prague, 1947.

Inscription: signed lower left and dated 1901

Technique: oil on canvas. Original period frame.

Dimensions: unframed 84 x 160 cm, framed 95 x 172 cm.

Condition: in very good condition