Jaroslav Čermák (painter)
Encyclopedia
Jaroslav Čermák was a Czech
painter known primarily for his history painting
s. Many of his paintings are in the collection of the National Gallery in Prague
.
. His birth house at Betlémské náměstí 10 (Betlémské Square No. 10) has since been decorated with a commemorative statue of a girl crowned with laurel and with a golden inscription of his surname. As a child, Čermák suffered an injury of the hip, and due to subsequent complications he spent a part of his childhood strapped to the bed in a narrow chest. This accident apparently inspired his artistic beginnings, as while in bed, deprived of the possibility of moving, he found an interest in drawing. His family was involved in arts patronage; his mother supported anonymously the renowned Czech writer Božena Němcová
.
From 1847 to 1848, Čermák studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague
as a pupil of Christian Ruben
. It was Čermák's desire to be a history painter; as he felt that the training in Prague
would be insufficient, he traveled to Antwerp, where he studied with Gustave Wappers and Louis Gallait
. In 1852 he settled in Paris
; however, he travelled widely through Europe and often returned to his homeland. He frequently visited Montenegro
, and in 1862 he fought alongside local soldiers in their clashes with Ottoman
troops at the battle of Cetinje
. For his courage in battle he was awarded a medal by Nicholas I of Montenegro
, whose guest he frequently was. One of the streets in Podgorica
was named after him. In 1874 he designed and built his own house in Paris.
Through his sister Marie, Čermák was the brother-in-law of Jerzy Konstanty Czartoryski
. He died in 1878 in Paris. His remains were transferred to Prague in 1888. He is buried at Olšany Cemetery
in Prague.
and Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps
and became familiar with their works. Many of his paintings depicted scenes from Czech history; he was, however, also interested in subjects from Montenegro
and Herzegovina
, and one of his most famous works is The Wounded Montenegrin. His works are influenced by Romanticism. As an important artistic exponent of the Czech National Revival
, he actively participated in the emancipation efforts of Czechs and other small European nations. The themes of his works bear the stamp of anti-Habsburg
stance. Čermák painted portrait
s and genre pieces
in addition to history paintings.
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
painter known primarily for his history painting
History painting
History painting is a genre in painting defined by subject matter rather than an artistic style, depicting a moment in a narrative story, rather than a static subject such as a portrait...
s. Many of his paintings are in the collection of the National Gallery in Prague
National Gallery in Prague
The National Gallery in Prague is a state-owned art gallery in Prague, Czech Republic. It is housed in different locations within the city, the largest being the Veletržní Palác....
.
Biography
Čermák was born in PraguePrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. His birth house at Betlémské náměstí 10 (Betlémské Square No. 10) has since been decorated with a commemorative statue of a girl crowned with laurel and with a golden inscription of his surname. As a child, Čermák suffered an injury of the hip, and due to subsequent complications he spent a part of his childhood strapped to the bed in a narrow chest. This accident apparently inspired his artistic beginnings, as while in bed, deprived of the possibility of moving, he found an interest in drawing. His family was involved in arts patronage; his mother supported anonymously the renowned Czech writer Božena Němcová
Božena Nemcová
Božena Němcová was a Czech writer of the final phase of the Czech National Revival movement.-Biography:...
.
From 1847 to 1848, Čermák studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague
Academy of Fine Arts in Prague
The Academy of Fine Arts, Prague was founded in 1799 and is the Czech Republic's oldest art college. The school offers twelve Master's degree programs and one Doctoral program.-History:...
as a pupil of Christian Ruben
Christian Ruben
Christian Ruben was a German painter.Born in Trier, Ruben studied in Düsseldorf under Peter von Cornelius from 1823, and in 1826 settled in Munich, where he worked on the designs for the new stained glass windows for the Regensburg Cathedral and for a church in Auer...
. It was Čermák's desire to be a history painter; as he felt that the training in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
would be insufficient, he traveled to Antwerp, where he studied with Gustave Wappers and Louis Gallait
Louis Gallait
Louis Gallait was a Belgian painter.Gallait was born in Tournai, Hainaut, Belgium in 1810. He first studied in his native town under Philippe Auguste Hennequin. In 1832 his first picture, Tribute to Caesar, won a prize at the exhibition at Ghent...
. In 1852 he settled in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
; however, he travelled widely through Europe and often returned to his homeland. He frequently visited Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, and in 1862 he fought alongside local soldiers in their clashes with Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
troops at the battle of Cetinje
Cetinje
Cetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...
. For his courage in battle he was awarded a medal by Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nicholas I of Montenegro
Nikola I Mirkov Petrović-Njegoš was the only king of Montenegro, reigning as king from 1910 to 1918 and as prince from 1860 to 1910. He was also a poet, notably penning "Onamo, 'namo!", a popular song from Montenegro.-Early life:Nikola was born in the village of Njeguši, the ancient home of the...
, whose guest he frequently was. One of the streets in Podgorica
Podgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...
was named after him. In 1874 he designed and built his own house in Paris.
Through his sister Marie, Čermák was the brother-in-law of Jerzy Konstanty Czartoryski
Jerzy Konstanty Czartoryski
Prince Jerzy Konstanty Czartoryski was a Polish noble .Jerzy was married to Marie Čermáková, married on May 2, 1861 in Vienna; his brother-in-law was the painter Jaroslav Čermák....
. He died in 1878 in Paris. His remains were transferred to Prague in 1888. He is buried at Olšany Cemetery
Olšany Cemetery
Olšany Cemetery is the largest graveyard in Prague, Czech Republic, once having as many as two million burials. The cemetery is particularly noted for its many remarkable art nouveau monuments.- History :...
in Prague.
Style
He was influenced by the work of Peter Paul Rubens. During his stay in Paris he encountered Eugène DelacroixEugène Delacroix
Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix was a French Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of the French Romantic school...
and Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps
Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps
]Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps was a French painter.He was born in Paris. In his youth he travelled in the East, and reproduced Oriental life and scenery with a bold fidelity to nature that puzzled conventional critics...
and became familiar with their works. Many of his paintings depicted scenes from Czech history; he was, however, also interested in subjects from Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
and Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
, and one of his most famous works is The Wounded Montenegrin. His works are influenced by Romanticism. As an important artistic exponent of the Czech National Revival
Czech National Revival
Czech National Revival was a cultural movement, which took part in the Czech lands during the 18th and 19th century. The purpose of this movement was to revive Czech language, culture and national identity...
, he actively participated in the emancipation efforts of Czechs and other small European nations. The themes of his works bear the stamp of anti-Habsburg
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
stance. Čermák painted portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
s and genre pieces
Genre painting
Genre works, also called genre scenes or genre views, are pictorial representations in any of various media that represent scenes or events from everyday life, such as markets, domestic settings, interiors, parties, inn scenes, and street scenes. Such representations may be realistic, imagined, or...
in addition to history paintings.