Journey Through Bedřich Smetana's Family Tree

Thanks to family photographs, the exhibition offers a glimpse into the history of composer Bedřich Smetana's two marriages. The exhibition is based on two illustrated genealogical trees. The family lineage spans 8 generations and includes 117 people. The artistic design is the work of graphic designer Jana Koksteinová.

On August 27, 1849, Bedřich Smetana married his long-time student love Kateřina Kolářová. In the mid-1850s, however, his family life was hit by cruel blows of fate. Three of his four daughters – Gabriela, Bedřiška, and Kateřina – died; only Žofie lived to adulthood. A few years later, tuberculosis also ended the life of his wife Kateřina – she died on April 19, 1859, in Dresden during a premature return from Gothenburg to Prague.

In the summer of that year, Smetana met Bettina Ferdinandiová, the younger sister of his brother Karel's wife. In September, he left for Sweden with a promise of marriage, and on July 10, 1860, he married her. Two daughters were born from this marriage, Zdenka and Božena. Zdenka married forester Antonín Heydušek (their union produced sons Miloš and Zdeněk and daughter Daniela), Božena married forester Karel Graf (their only offspring was son Erich). Smetana maintained the closest relationship with Žofie, his daughter from his first marriage, until his death. In 1874, Žofie married forester Josef Schwarz (this marriage produced Zdeněk, Edita, Běla, Jarmila, and Jaromír), and it was with them in Jabkenice that Smetana and his family spent the last 10 years of his life.

The photographs come from the collection of the Bedřich Smetana Museum and from living descendants of Bedřich Smetana. The exhibition is complemented by the memories of Smetana's last living great-grandson, Ing. Petr Heydušek.