Exciting Destinations for Experiencing Modern and Medieval Art: Uncover the Hidden Gems of the Art World!

Combine your love for art with travel and embark on an Art Journey with Kudy z Nudy. We’ll present you with well-known galleries as well as hidden gems you may not be familiar with. You’ll discover where to find the genuine art treasures and what specific pieces deserve your attention. Appreciate historical art alongside the brilliance of our architectural heritage!

Modern and Contemporary Art

What if we don’t kick things off at the National Gallery in Prague? No worries, that’s on the agenda too! However, we’ll begin our art explorations in other regions where amazing artistic creations often emerge. For instance, the Plato Gallery in Ostrava is a must-visit. What was once a neglected and abandoned city slaughterhouse has been transformed into a stylish modern gallery just waiting for you to explore. The building has been redesigned by Polish architect Robert Konieczny, who introduced the concept of mobile architecture while honoring the original structure. This way, the building maintains its historical essence while enjoying a contemporary update.

You can also enjoy an engaging art date in Kutná Hora. Despite its timeless exterior, it primarily showcases artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries.

Art Design Fashion. Here, you’ll find works from various contemporary artists, including Maxim Velčovský, Lucie Koldová, Krištof Kintera, Liběna Rochová, Jiří Pelcl, and Olgoj Chorchoj.

Where to Find 20th Century Art?

Are you curious about 20th-century art? Don’t miss the Alš South Bohemia Gallery. It draws attention with its focus on modern artwork through its current exhibitions. Plus, you can make a trip to the Hluboká Chateau, where the Art History Museum of the South Bohemian Region is found in the Castle Riding Hall. Be sure to check out the permanent display of Czech sculpture from the 20th century and the Museum of Ceramics located in Bechyně.

The Benedikt Rejt Gallery located in Louny captivates visitors with its contemporary art, photography, and light installations. Named after the royal architect Benedikt Rejt, who worked during the Gothic to Renaissance transitional period, this gallery features a unique collection of modern art spread across four floors of medieval city fortifications.

You might also be intrigued by galleries situated in former insurance offices, banks, or department stores, like the Gallery of Modern Art in Hradec Králové. It is located in the old Záložní úvěrní ústav, constructed based on architect Osvald Polívka’s design between 1911 and 1912. Its collection of Czech art from the transition of the 19th into the 20th century ranks it as one of the most significant galleries in the Czech Republic.

Don’t forget about the famous National Gallery in Prague; you can find a permanent display of 19th, 20th, and 21st century art at the Trade Fair Palace. At the Kampa Museum, you can view extensive collections from two icons of 20th-century art, František Kupka and Otto Gutfreund, as well as a collection of Central European modern art curated by Jan and Meda Mládek.

Collections of Historical Art

Once again, we revisit the National Gallery in Prague, this time to the St. Agnes Monastery. Here, you can admire a collection of medieval art from Bohemia and Central Europe dating from 1200 to 1550, featuring significant pieces by artists like Albrecht Altdorfer and Lucas Cranach Sr..

You might also find medieval masterpieces in unexpected places, such as in Diocesan Museums. For instance, the Diocesan Museum in Brno houses the painting Madonna of Veveří, created by the workshop of the Master of the Vyšebrod Altar from the period following 1340. Other treasures can be explored in the Museum of Religious Art of the Plzeň Diocese located in an old Franciscan monastery in Plzeň, or at the Archdiocesan Museum in Olomouc.

Leonardo’s Mona Lisa and Klimt’s Judith

Leonardo da Vinci, the artist who inspired World Art Day, is also recognized as the creator of the most famous painting in history—the portrait known as Mona Lisa. This masterpiece was once owned by the French monarchy, displayed at Château de Fontainebleau, and later in Versailles, and is currently showcased at the Louvre.

Among the world’s priciest artworks are also pieces by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, with Judith taking the lead. The estimated market value of this painting is over two billion crowns, yet its artistic significance is beyond measure. The Gallery of Fine Arts in Ostrava acquired Klimt’s Judith in 1950, as it was formerly part of German property. Klimt created multiple versions of this theme: the first Judith, painted in 1901, is a highlight of the Austrian Gallery in the Belvedere in Vienna, while another version created in 1909 is on display in the modern art section at the Ca’ Pesaro Palace in Venice, Italy. Art historians suggest that the Judith in Ostrava is not only larger, more relaxed, and more provocative than her counterparts, but most importantly, her authenticity is unquestionable.

Where Can You Discover True Artistic Treasures in the Czech Republic?

The artistic treasures of the Czech Republic don’t stop with paintings like Albrecht Durer’s The Rosary Celebration, nor with Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s likeness, or pieces by influential Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, and Rembrandt’s artwork called The Scholar in the Study. You can check out Rembrandt at the Old Masters II exhibition in the Sternberg Palace located in Hradčany, while another artistic jewel, Titian’s Apollo and Marsyas, is displayed in the Castle Picture Gallery in Kroměříž. You can also discover an exceptional piece known as the Hayseed painting from the Moon cycle by Flemish master Pieter Bruegel the Elder in the Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle.

World Art Day (April 15)