The Czech Republic - Eastern Europe - page 241

The most extensive collection of classic European works spanning the 14th to the
18th centuries is found at the Archbishop's Palace complex in the S ternbersk ; palác
across from the main gate to Prague Castle.
Veletr z ní Palace houses most of the country's 20th-century art collection and now
also shows the important national revival works from Czech artists of the 19th cen-
tury. Much of the rest of the national collection is divided between Kinsk ; Palace on
Old Town Square and the Gothic collection at St. Agnes Convent near the river
in Old Town.
The key Prague sites within the national gallery system are listed below.
Hradcany
St. Agnes Convent (Kláster sv. Anezky Ceské) A complex of early Gothic
buildings and churches dating from the 13th century, the convent, tucked in a corner
of Staré M ê sto, began exhibiting much of the National Gallery's collection of Gothic
art in 2000. Once home to the Order of the Poor Clares, it was established in 1234
by St. Agnes of Bohemia, sister of Wenceslas I. The Blessed Agnes became St. Agnes
when Pope John Paul II paid his first visit to Prague in 1990 for her canonization.
U Milosrdn;ch 17, Praha 1. & 224-810-628. www.ngprague.cz. Admission 100Kc ($4.15/£2) adults, 50Kc ($2/£1)
children. Tues-Sun 10am-6pm. Metro: Line A to Staromêstská.
St. George's Convent at Prague Castle (Kláster sv. Jirí na Prazském hradê)
Dedicated to displaying traditional Czech art, the castle convent is especially packed
with Gothic and baroque Bohemian iconography as well as portraits of patron saints.
The most famous among the unique collection of Czech Gothic panel paintings are
those by the Master of the Hohenfurth Altarpiece and the Master Theodoricus.
Jirské nám. 33. & 257-531-644. www.ngprague.cz. Admission 100Kc ($4.15/£2) adults, 50Kc ($2/£1) students, free
for children under 6. Tues-Sun 9am-5pm. Metro: Line A to Malostranská or Hradcanská.
Sternberk Palace (Sternbersk; palác) The jewel in the National Gallery
crown (also known casually as the European Art Museum), the gallery at S ternberk
Palace, adjacent to the main gate of Prague Castle, displays a wide menu of European
art throughout the ages. It features 5 centuries of everything from Orthodox icons to
Renaissance oils by Dutch masters.
Hradcanské nám. 15, Praha 1. & 233-090-570. www.ngprague.cz. Admission 150Kc ($6.25/£3) adults, 70Kc
($2.90/£1) students and children. Tues-Sun 10am-6pm. Metro: Line A to Malostranská or Hradcanská.
Staré Mêsto (Old Town)
Kinsk; Palace (Palác Kinsk;ch) The reconstructed rococo palace houses graphic
works from the National Gallery collection, including pieces by Georges Braque,
André Derain, and other modern masters. Pablo Picasso's 1907 Self-Portrait is here
and has virtually been adopted as the National Gallery's logo.
Staromêstské nám. 12, Praha 1. & 224-810-758. www.ngprague.cz. Admission is different for each exhibition.
Tues-Sun 10am-6pm. Metro: Line A to Staromêstská.
Veletrzní Palace (National Gallery) This 1925 constructivist palace, built for
trade fairs, was remodeled and reopened in December 1995 to hold the bulk of the
National Gallery's collection of 20th-century works by Czech and other European
artists. Three atrium-lit concourses provide a comfortable setting for some catchy and
kitschy Czech sculpture and multimedia works. Alas, the best cubist works from