Tactile Exhibition

HAPTIC TRAIL – CLOISTER

REMOVABLE ENLARGED PRINT DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Introduction to the Tactile Exhibition The National Gallery Prague holds a significant collection of medieval cast works. From these, more than a dozen pieces have been selected, clearly illustrating the stylistic transformation of sculptural form from the Romanesque period to the late Gothic. The selection distinctly shows how sculptors' approach to depicting religious imagery and everyday reality changed over the centuries. The exhibited ensemble captures stone sculptures and wood carvings in copies. The originals of some of these have remained in the places for which they were created for centuries. This is the case, for example, with portrait busts from Prague's St. Vitus Cathedral or the beautiful Pilsen Madonna. Others can be seen today in gallery exhibitions.

Introduction to Gothic Sculpture The Gothic style has its roots in France and came to us indirectly, especially via the Rhineland, in the mid-13th century. Early medieval sculpture was closely intertwined with architecture. Sculptures were placed both outside and inside. They often adorned portals and vestibules; inside, they were on consoles, columns, and pillars, complementing the decoration of altars. Later, sculptures were increasingly used outside of architecture, which led to a change in their format and the diversity of materials used. In addition to stone sculptures, usually made of marlstone or sandstone, a number of wood carvings have been preserved. In the Czech lands, linden wood was most commonly used, less frequently fruit trees and conifers. Wood carvings, and some stone sculptures, were usually color-treated – polychromed.

Votive Relief from St. George's Basilica

Bohemia, before 1228 Cast: patinated plaster Original: golden marlstone, remnants of original polychromy, central part H 88 cm, W 57 cm, wings H 66 cm, W 27 cm

The relief consists of three parts, most likely secondarily joined into a single whole. The surface of the central panel is filled by the most important figure of the seated Virgin Mary on a throne. She holds the Infant Jesus on her lap, depicted in profile and with a raised blessing right hand. In both upper corners, angels with censers float on clouds. They place a crown on Mary's head, which, like the angels, is surrounded by a halo. The engraved Latin inscription on the frame identifies the small figures kneeling below the steps of the throne at Mary's feet. On the left, Princess Mlada, sister of Prince Boleslav II, is depicted with clasped hands. She was the abbess of the first women's Benedictine monastery of St. George at Prague Castle, founded by her brother in 973. On the opposite side, the praying abbess Berta is depicted. On the right wing kneels King Přemysl Otakar I, as indicated by the preserved inscription on the edge of the frame, and on the opposite side, a praying nun, presumably Abbess Agnes, the king's half-sister.

Madonna from Prostějov

Master of the Michel Madonna - workshop Prague (?), around 1340 Cast: patinated plaster, head of Madonna H 32 cm Original: linden wood, remnants of original polychromy, H 113.5 cm

The sculpture is attributed to the workshop of an outstanding carver active in Prague or Brno in the second quarter of the 14th century. He is provisionally called the Master of the Michel Madonna after one of his most famous works. The Madonna from Michel is exhibited in the long-term exhibition of medieval art here. The exhibited head of the Prostějov Madonna is part of a carving of a standing Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus. Mary is without a crown, a veil at the back covers her hair and does not fall freely onto her shoulders, but wraps around her entire chest. The detailed fine carving on the crown of the parted strands of wavy hair is distinctive. They are twisted into deep folds that frame the face. A hinted smile enlivens the face with wide-open eyes, a short, gently curved nose, and a small chin.

Franciscan Madonna

Prague (?), after 1350 Cast: epoxy resin, polychromy Original: linden wood, later polychromy, H 134 cm

The statue adorned the cloister of the Franciscan monastery in Pilsen. The figure of the Virgin Mary is tall, elongated, imperceptibly curved, and steps slightly forward. On her right arm sits a child unnaturally high, whose head is almost level with Mary's…