Louvre Masterpieces on Display for the First Time in Prague

Over 200 works, including prints, drawings, paintings, and even jewelry, will be showcased in a new exhibition at the National Gallery Prague (NGP).

The collaboration with the Louvre Museum in Paris delves into the fascinating world of Mannerist printmaking.

The exhibition will explore the evolution of this artistic style, known for its imaginative flourishes and symbolic content. It will feature works from 16th-century art centers across Europe, including Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic itself, and France.

Mannerism emerged in Italy from the visual language of the High Renaissance and quickly gained international prominence. It is characterized by a refined elegance, rich imagination, and affinity for symbols and hidden meanings.

Printmaking played a pivotal role in its rapid dissemination, while also establishing itself as an independent artistic discipline during this period, and attaining both technical and artistic excellence. Most of the public knew the key works of Michelangelo, Raphael, and Giulio Romano, and the magnificent decoration of the French royal residence at Fontainebleau only through the medium of prints.

This exhibition traces the evolution of Mannerist graphic art, exploring its experiments, originality, and connections with other art forms, while testifying to its role in the artistic exchange between Italy and other European countries.

The exhibition benefits from an exceptionally generous loan from the graphic collection of the Musée du Louvre, particularly the rare collection donated to the museum by the renowned art collector Edmond de Rothschild. Some of these artworks have never been exhibited publicly before.

A genuinely exceptional addition to the Prague exhibition is a drawing by Michelangelo Buonarroti. The display will feature an array of works by master engravers and etchers, including Parmigianino, Schiavone, Cornelis Cort, Hendrick Goltzius, Aegidius Sadeler, Jacques Bellange, Jacques Callot, and many others.

More info:

From May 17 until August 11, 2024
Where: Waldstein Riding School
Opening time: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00

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