Enchanted by Antiquity - New Exhibition in Chateau Duchcov ****************************************************************************************** * Enchanted by Antiquity - New Exhibition in Chateau Duchcov ****************************************************************************************** In summer 2016 a new permanent exhibition, “Enchanted by Antiquity”, was opened in Duchcov Bohemia. After a short interruption, the public once again gained access to the collection plaster casts of ancient plastics from the collections of the Faculty of Arts of Charles U In the Czech Republic the collection of plaster casts that belongs to the Faculty of Arts unique ensemble. Today it contains over 500 copies of both famous and less well-known work Almost 100 of them are now on display to the public in Duchcov Chateau. However strange the connection of a Czech Baroque chateau and the ancient statues may seem look at the chateau’s collection of paintings or a glance at Matyáš Bernard Braun’s Baroqu Herculi guarding the entrance gate to the chateau‘s front courtyard make it clear that bot and Baroque art were greatly influenced by Antiquity. During the rule of the passionate art collector Emperor Rudolph II in the late 16th and ea centuries many originals of the ancient artworks were deposited in the Czech countries, in famous sculpture of a kneeling boy known as “Ilioneus“. Today, however, Czech art lovers h themselves with just the historical plaster casts. Interestingly, the plaster casts from C collection were portrayed as their originals in the popular 1950s Czechoslovakian historic on Rudolph II, “The Emperor’s Baker“ and “The Baker’s Emperor.“ The joint project of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University and the National Heritage I however, limited only to exhibiting the casts. It uses the full potential of the chateau a monuments in a relation to the living-space of Czech aristocracy which often and happily w Antiquity. After all, the oldest pieces from the collection (including the sculptures of “ and “The Drunken Satyr Balancing on a Wine Sack”) originate from the art collections of th Nostitz. As the plaster casts collection of the Faculty of Arts was created with a certain scientif oriented purpose, the visitor is represented with two parallel lines of the exhibition at Antiquity and the Chateau line. The Antiquity line depicts the evolution of Ancient Greek sculpture from archaic times unt Hellenistic period, and remembers some important historical events or specific aspects of in particular focus are selected legends of Ancient Greek Mythology. Strong themes of war punishment (e.g. killing of Niobe’s children or punishing of Satyr Marsyas) are joined by of the Goddess Aphrodite’s love affairs or humorous acts of the wine god Dionysius. During the chateau’s collection of paintings, or to the garden of the chateau, visitors can compa topics were depicted by both Renaissance and Baroque artists. During their long history, the plaster casts were not only used as study objects of classi archaeologists, but they were also a model to practically the whole generation of Czech ar first third of the 19th century. A unique cooperation between Wilhelm Klein, Professor of archaeology, and Josef Václav Myslbek, one of the most famous Czech sculptors, led to crea plastics as well as whole groups of sculptures, including the exhibited sculpture of Godde Satyr Marsyas, originally from sculptor Myron from the mid 5th century BC. The original rich colours of the Ancient sculpture are shown in the reconstruction of the the archer from the west front of the archaic temple of Goddess Aphaia (also Aphaea) on th of Aigina. The motif of the decorations was the Trojan War, therefore the sculpture is usu Prince Paris, and it is one of the biggest points of interest of the whole collection. Joi reconstruction of the western pediment of the temple is exhibited; it shows ten fighting f almost life size. The Chateau line of the exhibition makes the visitor familiar with the enchantment of Anti was felt by the Czech nobility in past centuries. The selection of the exhibition space wa – the historical owners of Duchcov Chateau, the Wallenstein family, used this part of the exhibition area for their large collection of weapons, porcelain, paintings and minerals a art pieces in the 18th and 19th centuries. Part of the exhibition is also the former chateau theatre. The visitors are reminded of th space by the scenography of the room, as well as two replicas of magnificent Baroque costu the characters of Pallas Athena and Ancient Hero. The copies were created based on preserv the famous Viennese theatre scenographer and costume designer Antonio Daniele Bertoli (167 are part of the exhibits that are the most attractive for the visitors. One more theme of the exhibition is the phenomenon of the Grand Tours of the European aris areas of the Ancient Mediterranean, which were a traditional part of the education of youn Grand Tours are recalled by a collection of souvenirs, travel necessities or historical ph the collection of the National Heritage Institute. However, the aim of the exhibition is not to depict Antiquity and interest in it as exclus of interest for the elite. Rather, it presents it as part of general education and the fou European culture of today.           You can see the result on the websites of Duchcov Chateau – or you are cordially invited t the exhibition in person to learn more about it on the spot. Hannah Wakefield is a student from the UK studying Literature at Charles University for on