The traditional watch seller Hodinářství Bechyně is one of the long-term supporters of the National Gallery Prague. One of the rarest paintings in the gallery’s collections, the Feast of the Rosary by Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), is the main motif of its new campaign, which begins in December. the aim of the campaign is not only to emphasize the joint partnership but the shared principles, which are the love of art and the respect for the masterwork not only of the painters but also of the people who take care of the works of art.
Championship takes time
Dürer painted a painting called The Solemnity of the Rosary in 1506 commissioned by German merchants for the church of San Bartolomeo in Venice. It depicts the scene of an ideal gathering of the Rosary Brotherhood. This is a landmark work, depicting the transformation of German Gothic art into the Renaissance period. The masterful processing of the image proves that German painting was able to achieve the qualities of the renowned Venetian painting.
The creation of a phenomenal work took time, as did its restoration. “Championship takes time” is also the slogan of the Hodinářství Bechyně campaign. The restoration itself will be very demanding, as the defects in the painting appear on the surface of one-fifth of the entire painting.
Restoration of the work
This is one of the most demanding and complicated restoration projects in the Czech Republic. In the project’s first phase, previous restoration surveys will be comprehensively revised and analyzed, supplemented by the latest scientific methods. Subsequently, the concept of the restoration intervention will be created.
The methodology of the restoration procedures will be consulted at the international level through a commission composed of leading specialists from the ranks of restorers and art historians.
Although the restoration work is planned for five years, this does not mean that the important work will be lost from the eyes of the cultural public for that long. Those interested will be able to learn about the key moments of the restoration process on an ongoing basis, among other things, in the form of guided tours.
“Our interest is for the NGP brand to be even stronger, and at the same time we would like to contribute to education and increase the aesthetics of public space with our campaign,” said Lenka Bechyňová, manager of Hodinářství Bechyně, about the campaign.
The Solemnity of the Rosary: A History
Regardless of the price, the important art collector – Emperor Rudolf II wanted to get the rosary ceremony. He also bought the painting in 1606, 100 years after it was created, and had it brought to Prague wrapped in carpets over the Alps. However, the journey of the painting to the National Gallery in Prague was certainly not straightforward, and it was reflected in the current state of the painting.
Albrecht Dürer
Dürer was one of the greatest artists of his time. He boldly combined the thorough and technically bravura approach of the German medieval master with lightness, generosity and bright colors, i.e. the characteristics characteristic of Venetian Renaissance painting. He was the first German artist to write about his life, the first to treat self-portraits as a separate genre, he brought watercolor and printing to artistic and technological perfection at an early stage, and the first in what is now Germany to draw nudes based on living models. Here, too, he was the first to support his work with art-theoretical treatises, thus giving an insight into the creative process and the ideas behind his works.
National Gallery Prague
The Prague National Gallery presents the great names of Czech and world art from the Middle Ages to the present day. With its activities and collections, which are comparable to important world galleries, it welcomes 700,000 visitors annually.
The National Gallery Prague cooperates with many foreign institutions and presents unique exhibitions in the Czech environment: Rembrandt, French Impressionism, František Kupka, Alberto Giacometti, Gerhard Richter and many others. For example, you can currently visit the exhibition Petr Brandl: The Story of a Bohemian in the Valdštejnská jízdárna.
Watchmaker Bechyně
We are Hodinářství Bechyně, a Czech family company that started to build a modern tradition of representing prestigious brands in the Czech Republic. We represent high-quality German and Swiss watch brands, including their service. We were the first to obtain a representation of the Rolex brand in our country. We also deal with buying and selling vintage watches. Watches are our passion and joy. Over the years, many customers have become our friends. We are united not only by our love for the world of watches, but also by shared values. What matters to us is customer satisfaction. With us, buying a watch is more than just a purchase, we are happy to introduce you to the fascinating world of quality and beauty.
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