Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Rider Jaguar
Attacking a
Horseman
Delacroix often visited
zoos to study predatory
animals whose
movement inspired
him. This small canvas
from 1853
(right)
is a
fine example of such
research, and is
striking for its
interaction of
colour and
motion.
Myself,
Self Portrait
With elements of
modern civilization in the
background Henri
Rousseau's self portrait
depicts the artist as a
self-assured personality.
Self Portrait
One of 14 Picassos
donated by former
National Museum director
Vincenc Kramá∫ in 1960,
the almond-shaped eyes
and triangular nose
testify to the influence of
Iberian art and sculpture.
St John the Baptist
Auguste Rodin's 1878
sculpture
(below)
is a study
of spiral motion, from the
tension of the firmly
anchored feet, to the rota-
ting trunk, to the head
turned away from the
dominant gesture of
the right hand.
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Anxiety
Otto Gutfreund paved
the way for modern Czech
sculpture. This bronze
(above)
captures the
apprehension of man in
the early 20th century.
Head of a
Young Girl
Created in 1926, Henri
Laurens' sculpture is a
synthesis of Cubism and
the Classical ideal of
form and beauty. The
National Gallery added
Laurens' bronze to its
collection in 1935.
Functionalism
Plans for a trade fair
complex began in 1924.
A design competition
selected the work of
architects Old∫ich T†l
and Josef Fuchs. Only
the existing Veletr≈ní
Palace was completed;
other planned buildings
never materialized due
to a lack of funding.
Veletr≈ní Palace opened
in 1928 on the Repub-
lic's 10th anniversary. It
was badly damaged by
fire in 1974 and reopened
to the public in 1995.
Green Wheat
Van Gogh's encoun-
ter with Impressionism
was a decisive moment.
Charmed by the country-
side of southern France,
he began to create bright
canvases such as this
landscape
(below)
.
At the Moulin
Rouge
Toulouse-Lautrec thrived
on depictions of Paris
nightlife such as this oil
tempura on cardboard.
One of the dancing
women is his muse,
Jane Avril. Oscar Wilde
is one of the figures in
the background.
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