Abstract
The article takes several chapters to deal with the theme of oval layout in sacral architecture in 17th and 18th century Bohemia, its basis, and methods of use. The introduction deals with the question of whether the issue needs to distinguish the concept of oval and ellipse.
The first part of the article, on the basis of data collected by Jarmila Krčálová, summarizes the basic overview of the development of the central compositions of the 16th century, the second part is devoted to the construction of Vlašská Chapel from the late 16th century as the first oval center outside Italy. The third part of the article moves into the second half of the 17th century.
It notes the arrival of architect Jean Baptiste Mathey who brought stimuli from Rome and France to Bohemia - including the use of an oval layout. The fourth part is dedicated to the work of Christoph Dientzenhofer.
This author made the oval the starting point for the vast majority of his projects which have the form of simple central and extremely complex compositions. The fifth part focuses on a work of Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer.
The last part of the article asks the question of whether it is possible, in the outlines, to monitor a specific development and line. The article concludes that it is not.
Until the mid-17th century, this motif was used only sporadically and later as one of many possible elements that were available to architects. The oval outline is therefore to be understood as one of many motives, which, along with other centers - polygons or circles - was part of a wealthy shape registry of architecture of the 17th and 18th centuries.