Votive Panel of Jan Očko of Vlašim

The Votive Panel of Jan Očko of Vlašim[1][note 1] is a Gothic panel painting now in the National Gallery in Prague, Czech Republic. It is one of the most important artworks made in medieval Bohemia. The panel was painted for the Prague archbishop Jan Očko of Vlašim who is depicted kneeling before St. Adalbert of Prague in the lower part of the picture (donor portrait). The author(s) of the painting is (are) not known. The style of the painting stands between the works of Theodoric of Prague and the Master of the Třeboň Altarpiece (who represents the so-called Beautiful style, Central European form of International Gothic).[2]

Votive Panel of Jan Očko of Vlašim
Czech:  Votivní obraz Jana Očka z Vlašimi
ArtistUnknown
Yearbefore 1371 (1371)
TypeTempera on lime wood
Dimensions181 cm × 96 cm (71 in × 38 in)
LocationNational Gallery in Prague

History

The panel was originally placed in the chapel of Roudnice Castle, which belonged to the bishops and archbishops of Prague who used it as their residence. In 1371[3] the chapel was consecrated in honor of the Virgin Mary and patron saints of Bohemia, and this is probably the date when the picture was finished.[1]

Description

The picture measures 181 x 96 cm and it is painted on a panel made of lime wood.[4]

The painting is divided into two parts. In the middle of the upper part is the Virgin sitting on a throne with the infant Jesus. They are adored by kneeling Emperor Charles IV and his son King Wenceslaus IV. St. Sigismund of Burgundy stands behind Charles IV, while St. Wenceslaus of Bohemia stands behind the young king as his patron. In the lower part of the panel stand other Bohemian (Czech) patron saints (from the left): St. Procopius, St. Adalbert, St. Vitus and St. Ludmila. In the middle there is kneeling Archbishop Jan Očko of Vlašim who is adoring St. Adalbert, his predecessor in the post of bishop of Prague.[5]

Notes
  1. Alternative names: Votive Picture of Jan Očko of Vlašim, Votive Painting of Jan Očko of Vlašim, Votive Panel of Archbishop Očko of Vlašim, Votive Panel of Archbishop Jan Očko of Vlašim, Votive Painting of Archbishop John Očko of Vlašim, etc.

References
  1. Royt, Jan (2003). Medieval Painting in Bohemia. Prague: Charles University in Prague. pp. 68, 89. ISBN 8024602660.
  2. Faktor, Ondřej. "Votivní obraz Jana Očka z Vlašimi" (Video). www.ceskatelevize.cz (in Czech). Česká televize, Národní galerie v Praze. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  3. "Item post hec die XV mensis eiusdem [June 1371] consecravit capellam novam in magna turri in castro suo Rudnicz in honore beate Marie Virginis et sanctorum patronorum ecclesie Pragensis: Viti, Wenceslai, Adalberti atque Zigismundi." Krabice z Weitmile, Beneš. "Cronica ecclesiae Pragensis" (in Latin). Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  4. Boehm, Barbara Drake; Fajt, Jiří (editors) (2005). Prague: The Crown of Bohemia, 1347-1437. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 93. ISBN 9780300111385.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. "Obraz, který proslavil tvář Karla IV". www.rozhlas.cz (in Czech). Český rozhlas. 19 June 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
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