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Antonín Mánes (1784-1843) and the Mělník region

Publication at Faculty of Arts |
2017

Abstract

Antonín Manes is one of the leading painters of Czech painting of the 19th century. During his study trip to the Czech landscape, the painter captured the sketches seen in the sketchbook.

In one of his early sketchbook from July 1818, there are places from Melnik and surrounding areas. hese include several drawings from Hořín near Mělník. Specifically, Mělník is associated with a drawing, to which Antonín Mánes wrote the note "Tomb at Mělník".

However, there is no such tomb at Mělník. However, using the Renaissance tomb in the drawing, the tomb can be identified with the entrance to the southern hall of the Mělník Church of Sts.

Peter and Paul. The tombstone of A.

Mánes took interest and decided to combine it with the architecture to get the whole drawing funeral context. Mánes's drawings from the July sketchbook are evidence of the visit of Antonín Mánes to the town of Melnik, showing what the author was most interested in, as well as a typical example of the work of the visual artists with a reality that can be made to a certain extent transformed and remake in favor of greater aesthetic appeal.

Other works by A. Mánes connected with Mělník include Krajina near Mělník (approximately 1836) depicting the landscape on the right bank of the Vltava River and several works from Kokořínsko, where the painter attracted mainly the interconnection of nature with the castle architecture - the castle of Houska and Kokořín.

The most famous painting on this theme is the image of "Kokořín in the storm" (1839). A total of eleven works of art represent a notable sign of A.

Mánes's interest in Mělník. These are both cartoon sketches from his sketchbook and monumental oil paintings.

In some cases, the painter has faithfully kept the facts, in others he has incorporated specific real elements into the fictitious composition. This small set of works by Antonín Mánes from Mělník is a very varied and typical example of the creation of one of our most important 19th century landscape painters.