ICOM Prague 2022 | Traces of ‘the good old days’ and modern art

Traces of ‘the good old days’ and modern art: Franz Ferdinand d’Este at Konopiště Castle and the Museum of Art and Design in Benešov

Architecture Art History sights

Konopiště, a former castle established in the 13th century, is today mainly connected with the personality of Archduke Franz Ferdinand d’Este, heir presumptive to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Konopiště Castle was the last residence of the Archduke, who had the castle rebuilt in the neo-gothic style and turned its surroundings into a landscape park. A rose garden with greenhouses was established there as well. After the Archduke’s assassination in Sarajevo in 1914 (an act which served as a trigger for World War I), the castle was taken over by the Czechoslovak government and made accessible to the public.

In Czech historical consciousness, the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is often connected with the ‘good old days’ myth. Thanks in part to this romanticisation, the wonderfully preserved interiors of Konopiště Castle are a favourite destination of local visitors.

After touring the castle premises and taking time to wander the park at your own pace, we will continue to a local gallery, the Museum of Art and Design Benešov, which is small in size yet great in its importance. One of the most progressive local institutions, the museum doesn’t have the space for exhibitions to be displayed permanently, but instead focuses on interesting temporary exhibitions. The one we will have the chance to see is a retrospective of Ivan Kafka, a Czech installation artist and sculptor.

The Museum of Art and Design focuses mainly on the art of the 20th and 21st centuries, and in its picturesque yard you can find a collection of sculptures from famous Czech sculptors.

Recommended for members of: DEMHIST, ICFAA, ICDAD, NATHIST