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Christmas in Prague: Bohemian Gothic Painting in the National Gallery with Dr. Katerina Prusova

Christmas in Prague: Bohemian Gothic Painting in the National Gallery with Dr. Katerina Prusova


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

This seminar explores the Christmas theme in the rare medieval art collection of the National Gallery of Prague. Womanhood, motherhood, and fertility are documented in images of breastfeeding Madonnas and in scenes from the Nativity and the Visitation. Balancing the emphasis on the female caretaking role, we will also look at representations of St. Joseph tending to the newborn Christ child in the museum’s collection.

The National Gallery in Prague houses an extraordinary and rare collection of fourteenth and fifteenth-century art that has no parallel north of the Alps. The collection of Medieval Art contains representations of the pregnant Virgin Mary awaiting the birth of Jesus Christ and tender Nativity scenes on an altarpiece designed for the royal coronation of 1347.

Using works from the collection, we will also explore Christmas liturgical practices and how they influence our celebration of Christmas today and learn about the transcendental function of altarpieces, achieved by masterly painting technique and the use of gold, jewels, and precious stones applied on panel paintings.

Participants will also discover surprising representations of St. Joseph preparing a bath for a newborn baby and cooking porridge and also see the Three Kings rewarded with Christ’s diapers in exchange for gold and myrrh in a fifteenth-century altarpiece.

Led by an expert on Medieval and early Renaissance painting, Dr. Katerina Prusova, this interactive seminar will present the Christmas theme in Bohemian panel painting of the Middle Ages. Participants will come away with an understanding of the Christian cult of womanhood and motherhood as well as familiarity with rare and precious representations of the Christmas story in the Middle Ages.

PhDr. Katerina Prusova, Ph.D. is an Art Historian based in Prague. Katerina has an extensive teaching background, lecturing on Art History and Jewish History and Culture for the most prestigious universities in Prague since 2009. She has also worked as an expert docent at the Collection of Old Masters at the National Gallery and the Gallery of the City of Prague. In addition to this, she is a researcher in art stolen during WWII and a professional tour guide and guide trainer.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
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(4)
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K
K.S. (London, GB)
Interesting talk on art I knew little about

Guest did not leave comment

L
Louis Marvick (Reno, US)
Eye-opening lecture full of passion

Dr Prusova‘s deep knowledge of her field is matched by her ability to communicate her passion for her subject. She revealed many treasures of late medieval Bohemian art, while leaving the impression that we had only touched the tip of the iceberg. The lecture was presented with great professionalism.

V
Virginia (Comox, CA)
Review of Christmas in Prague

I really enjoyed both the art and the information. I have studied Italian art of this period and wanted a different perspective - which I got!

C
Cheryl A. (Lebanon, US)

Guest did not leave comment

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
100%
(4)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
K
K.S. (London, GB)
Interesting talk on art I knew little about

Guest did not leave comment

L
Louis Marvick (Reno, US)
Eye-opening lecture full of passion

Dr Prusova‘s deep knowledge of her field is matched by her ability to communicate her passion for her subject. She revealed many treasures of late medieval Bohemian art, while leaving the impression that we had only touched the tip of the iceberg. The lecture was presented with great professionalism.

V
Virginia (Comox, CA)
Review of Christmas in Prague

I really enjoyed both the art and the information. I have studied Italian art of this period and wanted a different perspective - which I got!

C
Cheryl A. (Lebanon, US)

Guest did not leave comment