„Paintings help paintings“– that´s the motto of the next exhibition, which will take place from the 6th May 2011 in the state castle Duchcov, in the Giacomo gallery. This exhibition has above all charity character, because it supports the project of the renovation of Reiner´s fresco. The project will be also followed by cultural beneficial events, where the main goal will be the presentation of this project and securing of the necessary financial ground for the realization. The first of these events is right the selling exhibition of the reproductions of paintings by Karel Gott. By visiting this event or purchasing the presented pieces of art you can support this unique project. The exhibition will be opened daily except Mondays, in May from 10.00 – 17.00 hrs, in June from 10.00 – 18.00 hrs. Contact: State castle Duchcov, tel. +420 417 835 301, www.zamek-duchcov.cz or www.duchcov.cz.

Project: Reiner´s fresco and „Paintings help paintings“

In 1728, Jan Josef of Valdštejn has concluded a contract with Václav Vavřinec Reiner about painting of the cupola of the hospital in Duchcov. The beautiful fresco “Assumption of Virgin Maria” could decorate the cupola for nearly 200 years only. The hospital was unfortunately demolished in 1958, in context of the mining works, but the fresco was fortunately removed two years before that. In 1967, it was presented as a part of the exhibition in Montreal. In 1973 the building of the new modern pavilion began, according to the project of Professor Jan Sokol, where the rare fresco was placed in the period of 1980-1982 and the pavilion was opened for public in 1983 under the patronage of UNESCO. Nowadays, the pavilion is administered by the National monument institution and it is not accessible for public because of the bad state of the fresco. That´s why the project rose, with the suitable name “Paintings help paintings”, where the presented paintings by Karel Gott can help to renovate this painting and historical priceless jewel.

From the rich history of Duchcov:

Duchcov, a town with 9000 inhabitants, situated at the foothill of Krušné Mountains, 8 km west of Teplice. Krušné Mountains reach more than 850 above sea level and create a massive barrier at the north-west, steeply rising up from almost lowland. On the opposite site, the more far away and more picturesque part, the horizon is created by cones of extinguished volcanos of the Czech Středohoří Mountains.

The history of Duchcov started back in the 12th century by the oldest written notice about the town from 1240. In 1460, the Bohemian king Jiří of Poděbrady awards the town with municipal symbol and seal. In 15th century, the Bohemian king Vladislav Jagelonský confirms the rights of the town.

The 30-year-war has destroyed the town several times, but also brought the Valdštejn family there, who has been influencing its further development for long time after that. Josef Emanuel of Valdštejn brought in 1785 the famous philosopher, globe-trotter and adventurer Giacomo Casanova to the Duchcov castle. He was working as castle librarian there and he spent 13 years of his life in this roll and died here in 1798. It is also worth mentioning that he wrote most of his literal pieces during this time, including the world-known Memories.

In the 80ies of the 20th century, a complete liquidation of Duchcov was seriously considered in order to use the mining supplies of brown coal situated below the town. It came to a demolition of several important monuments – in 1959 mainly the baroque hospital in the castle gardens (until nowadays, only the fresco of Václav Vavřinec Reiner has been preserved, removed and moved into the cupola of the new pavilion in the castle garden). The paradox meant the main argument against the whole demolition of the town, beating the interests of mining industry it was not the caste or sacral buildings, but the existence of the so called Duchcov viaduct.

The castle and court are decorated by sculptures of the workshop of Matyáš Braun. A church follows the castle buildings, church of Annunciation of Virgin Mary, originating from the 19th century. The square, which follows these objects, is decorated by the Trinity pillar and the fountain with the sculpture of St. Florian. Not far away from here we can find the Chapel of St. Barbara with memorial desk of here with high probability buried Giacomo Casanova and the Art Noveau evangelic church. The town centre has been declared as monumental zone and the town leaders are striving to renovate all of the here situated objects step by step.

Photogallery:

Photo: Jiří Krušina