Jaroslav Čermák Retrospective Opens at Prague Municipal Library
An extensive exhibition dedicated to 19th-century painter Jaroslav Čermák opened at the Prague Municipal Library, running through Feb. 28, 2027. Titled Myths of European Reality, the showcase brings together historical compositions, portraits, landscapes, still lifes, drawings, and graphic reproductions. The exhibition is a collaborative project between the National Gallery Prague, which contributed 53 works, and the Prague City Gallery (GHMP). According to GHMP curator Helena Musilová, the retrospective presents the artist not as a Slavic painter and freedom fighter—as he was framed by the previous regime—but as a worldly traveler whose themes remain relevant today.
Early Success and Career Debut in Paris
Born in 1830, Čermák abandoned the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague due to unsatisfactory teaching quality and relocated to Brussels to study under Belgian history painter Louis Gallait. At age 23, he debuted at the Paris Salon as the first Czech artist to show at the prestigious exhibition. His entry, Šimon Lomnický Begging on the Prague Bridge, earned him an honorable mention and 5,000 francs from patron Count Eugen Czernin. Musilová notes that Čermák understood the 19th-century art market, delivering internationally understandable subjects on schedule while maintaining a lifestyle that funded his passion for maritime travel, including a house in Brittany and four boats.
Winning a Gold Medal for Realism
For a similar canvas, The Spoils of War, he received a gold medal at the 1868 Salon.
Diplomatic Hurdles Over the Portrait of Princess Darinka
The exhibition features a rare portrait of Princess Darinka, wife of Prince Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro, whom Čermák painted during his Balkan travels. Securing the loan required navigating Montenegro’s national pride, as the country views Čermák as a foundational national painter who captured their identity during their independence struggles. According to GHMP, the artist originally accepted two horses and a saddle as payment for the portrait rather than currency. Another highlighted work, Wounded Montenegrin, created in 1873 for Croatian Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer, became an enduring symbol of collective sacrifice for freedom.
Details About the Jaroslav Čermák Exhibition
* How many works did the National Gallery Prague contribute to the exhibition?
The National Gallery Prague provided 53 pieces for the retrospective at the Municipal Library.
* When does the Jaroslav Čermák exhibition close?
The exhibition remains open to the public until Feb. 28, 2027.
* What institutions organized the retrospective?
The exhibition is a joint effort between the National Gallery Prague and the Prague City Gallery (GHMP).
Related reading