PRAGUE SERIES
KAROLINUM.CZ
The Prague Series The series designates Prague as a historical and cultural phenomenon, concisely showing the thousand-year development of the city through its material and spiritual transformations and its legendary genius loci, thus spreading awareness of Czech culture and its educational achievements. The standard volume of the series consists of a general interpretation of a certain theme accompanied by illustrations and “a walk through Prague,” which contains a captioned collection of photographs of historical sites still in existence today. The publication is complemented by a list of prominent personalities, an index and map of important places, and the author’s bibliography.
The Prague Series
Edited by Milada Motlová
This peer reviewed series is produced in cooperation with respected Czech art historians, photographers and translators.
PUBLISHED Eliška Fučíková: Praha rudolfínská (2014) Eliška Fučíková: Prague in the Reign of Rudolph II (2015)
SO ON TO BE PUBLISHED Kateřina Bečková: Praha: město a řeka an Royt: Praha Karla IV. Kateřina Bečková: Prague: The City and Its River an Royt: The Prague of Charles IV, 1316–1378 Božena Pacáková-Hošťálková: Pražské zahrady a parky Eliška Fučíková: Praha renesanční Božena Pacáková-Hošťálková: Prague Gardens and Parks Petr Wittlich: Praha secesní an Royt: Praha románská a gotická Vít Vlnas: Praha barokní
Soon to be published: Eliška Fučíková: Renaissance Prague Vít Vlnas: Baroque Prague Petr Wittlich: Art-Nouveau Prague
PRAGUE IN THE REIGN OF RUDOLPH II (Eliška Fučíková)
Prague in the Reign of Rudolph II transports readers back to the days of the Habsburg Emperor Rudolph II (1576–1611) when Prague became the center of the Holy Roman Empire, and when the imperial court was a much sought-after milieu for scholars and artists, as well as magicians and adventurers. As the author notes, almost anyone of importance, inside or even outside the empire, had to spend time in Prague if they wanted to make their name. After an introduction in the form of an historical outline, the reader is guided through an engaging and informative stroll through Rudolphine Prague, which to this day remains full of mystery and legends. Eliška Fučíková, an outstanding and internationally renowned expert on Rudolphine art, serves as the reader’s guide through the period and its monuments, including a peek into the famous imperial collection. The author’s lively and authoritative account is accompanied by about a hundred colour plates of buildings and historic monuments dating from the late Renaissance, additional graphic documentation, an index of locations with a map of Rudolphine monuments, and an overview of prominent figures. translated by: Derek Paton paperback, 200 pp., 1. edition | ISBN 9788024622637 | price: $30
The Prague Series
Edited by Milada Motlová
PRAGUE IN THE REIGN OF RUD OLPH II
PUBLISHED Eliška Fučíková: Praha rudolfínská (2014) Eliška Fučíková: Prague in the Reign of Rudolph II (2015) Kateřina Bečková: Praha: město a řeka (2015) Jan Royt: Praha Karla IV. (2016) Jan Royt: The Prague of Charles IV (2016) Božena Pacáková-Hošťálková: Praha – zahrady a parky (2016) Kateřina Bečková: Prague: The City and Its River (2016) Božena Pacáková-Hošťálková: Prague: Its Gardens and Parks (2017) SO ON TO BE PUBLISHED Eliška Fučíková: Praha renesanční Eliška Fučíková: Renaissance Prague Vít Vlnas: Praha barokní Petr Wittlich: Praha secesní Jan Royt: Praha románská a gotická
PRAGUE IN THE REIGN OF RUD OLPH II Eliška Fučíková KAROLINUM PRESS
PRAGUE IN THE REIGN OF RUD OLPH II introduces the reader to the days when Rudolph II was Holy Ro Emperor (reg. 1576–1611), Prague was the capital of the Empire, Rudolph’s court was highly sought after as a place of employmen scholars, artists, magicians, and adventurers. As the author, Elišk Fučíková, says, ‘Anyone of importance in the empire or even out it, who wanted to achieve something, had to visit Prague.’ An int duction to the more than sixty works presented here sets the scen for Rudolph’s Prague, a time and place still woven in mystery an legend. Together with the works of art, including the legendary collections of the emperor, the people and places of Prague are brought to life by Eliška Fučíková and the photographs and othe illustrations of the Late Renaissance and Mannerist art and archi ture, as well as maps helping the reader to locate the works.
In this book Eliška Fučíková shows that, in addition to the monuments that have been preserved in their original form, it is possible for contemporary readers to recognize not only those that are hidden at first sight, but those that no longer exist. – Beket Bukovinská, Head of Studia Rudolphina, Czech Academy of Sciences
PRAGUE: ITS GARDENS AND PARKS
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PRAGUE: ITS GARDENS AND PARKS (Božena Pacáková-Hošťálková)
The design of Prague’s gardens and parks, including those that belong to palace, castle and monastery complexes, private and public alike, forms an inseparable part of the millennium-long development of the Czech metropolis. In the book’s introduction, the scholar offers a brilliant outline of their foundation and transformations in their historical and stylistic context, employing new information discovered during research into their history. The second part focuses on individual gardens and parks, presenting them in groups according to a particular territory, and describing their locale. In addition to photographs and historical images, the book includes a glossary of terms and an index of important figures and locations. Descriptions of some of the historical gardens also include an explanation of their specific spatial relations. translated by: David Short paperback, 320 pp., 1. edition | ISBN 9788024634227 | price: $30
PRAGUE
ITS GARDENS AND PARKS Božena Pacáková-Hošťálková KAROLINUM
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PRAGUE: ITS GARDENS AND PARKS The Czech metropolis just wouldn’t look the same if its evolution had not been marked by the thousand-year evolution of its gardens and parks – at its castles, monasteries and palaces, public and private. The author provides a brilliant, comprehensive and erudite picture of how Prague’s parks and gardens were founded and took shape, showing how they have changed since the Middle Ages, adapting to each successive period and style, with the Baroque dominating. The Guide section is devoted to groups of parks and gardens, treated according to their connection to particular localities, beginning with the Castle and Hradčany, moving on through the Lesser Quarter, the New Town and Vyšehrad to arrive at the districts that have emerged in modern times. The focus is on entities that go with major cultural monuments, but the former royal game parks and modern botanical gardens are by no means overlooked. The book benefits immensely from its carefully selected photographs and illustrations from key historical documents, a glossary, an overview of species of trees and shrubs, and lists of prominent individuals and the relevant localities. With some of the historic gardens the author explains in detail the unique spatial relationships that make them particularly special.
13.10.15 11:13
The widely-cited author enjoys immense respect for her engaging scholarship and popular books on garden history and landscape architecture. She is clearly one of our most erudite scholars in this field. – Václav Girsa, Professor of Heritage Architecture, Czech Technical University
THE PRAGUE OF CHARLES IV (Jan Royt)
This publication, written by Czech professor of art history Jan Royt, renders a vivid image of the capital of the Bohemian Kingdom in the High Gothic period during Charles IV’s reign (1347– 1378). After Charles’ coronation as the Holy Roman Emperor in 1355, for the first time in its history the capital of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown became the center of the Holy Roman Empire. Thanks to royal and imperial attention, which reflected Charles’ Western-European education and cosmopolitan nature as well as his respect for the Přemyslid tradition, Prague flourished, becoming a uniquely beautiful city. The cathedral, the stone bridge, the university and the New Town with its magical cross of churches remain “stone seals” on the face of Prague’s Gothic architecture. Prague’s wealth of paintings and sculptures during this time further attest to its spiritual and cultural importance under Charles IV. The book contains around 100 photographs of Prague monuments, sights and documentary images. translated by: Derek Paton paperback, 200 pp., 1. edition | ISBN 9788024631325 | price: $30
The Prague Series
Edited by Milada Motlová
THE PRAGUE OF CHARLES IV
THE PRAGUE OF CHARLES IV
PUBLISHED Eliška Fučíková: Praha rudolfínská (2014) Eliška Fučíková: Prague in the Reign of Rudolph II (2015) Kateřina Bečková: Praha: město a řeka (2015) Jan Royt: Praha Karla IV. (2016) Jan Royt: The Prague of Charles IV (2016) Božena Pacáková-Hošťálková: Pražské zahrady a parky (2016) KAROLINUM PRESS Kateřina Bečková: Prague: the City and Its River (2017)
Jan Royt
SO ON TO BE PUBLISHED Eliška Fučíková: Praha renesanční Božena Pacáková-Hošťálková: Prague Gardens and Parks Eliška Fučíková: Renaissance Prague Vít Vlnas: Praha barokní Petr Wittlich: Praha secesní Jan Royt: Praha románská a gotická
THE PRAGUE OF CHARLES IV provides a vibrant picture of the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia in the period of High Gothic art. It is set against the background of historical events, which, in the reign of Charles IV (1347–78), were exceptionally favourable for Prague. After Charles was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1355, Prague for the first time in its history became the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. The city opened its gates to builders, students, artists, artisans, and visitors, regardless of their origin, and offered them a ‘table laid for feasting’. In the prestigious royal and imperial care into which were projected not only Charles’s position as a European ruler, but also his west-European education, cosmopolitan openness, faith, respect for Premyslid tradition, and personal enthusiasm, the city blossomed with original beauty. The cathedral, the stone bridge, the university, and the New Town, with its ‘magic cross’ of churches, like seals of stone, today all provide confirmation of the special appearance of Prague Gothic architecture, painting, sculpture, and indeed all the arts.
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01.08.16 12:08
A fascinating and eminently readable story unfurls before the reader, in which the goals, visions, and ambitions of Charles IV are interpreted through the unique monuments he built and the gothic atmosphere that the King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor imparted to his “little Rome.”
– Vladimír Hrubý, Professor of History at the University of Pardubice
PRAGUE: THE CITY AND ITS RIVER (Kateřina Bečková)
The appearance, character, and life of Prague, since the birth of the city, has been shaped by the Vltava river. The river enabled the settlement of the Prague basin and the creation of the capital of the Bohemian Kingdom. In the course of its history, the city gradually tamed the river. As the appearance of Prague changed, so too did the Vltava’s – most radically in the nineteenth century when the river banks became architecturally imposing avenues with grand houses and elegant promenades, centers of social life. The historical bond between Prague and the Vltava is outlined in the first section of the book, which prepares the reader for a walking tour with photographs that tell the stories of the flour mills, bridges, islands, embankments, monuments, and social centers. The panoramic view of the town from the perspective of the river weaves together major historical events with aspects of everyday life as it changes over time. The photographs of contemporary Prague are accompanied by historical and documentary illustrations, lists of key figures, locations, and maps. translated by: Derek Paton paperback, 200 pp., 1. edition | ISBN 9788024632926 | price: $30
PRAGUE: THE CITY AND ITS RIVER
PRAGUE
THE CITY AND ITS RIVER Kateřina Bečková KAROLINUM
PRAGUE: THE CITY AND ITS RIVER The appearance, character, and life of Prague, since the birth of the city, has been shaped by the River Vltava. The river enabled the settlement of the Prague basin and the creation of the capital of the Bohemian Kingdom. In the course of its history, the city gradually tamed the river. As the appearance of Prague changed, so too changed the appearance of the Vltava, most radically in the nineteenth century when the river banks became architecturally imposing riverside roads with grand houses, centres of social life, and elegant promenades. The historical bond between Prague and the Vltava is outlined in the first section of the book, preparing the reader for a stroll in photographs that tell the stories of the flour mills, bridges, islands, embankments, monuments, and social centres. The panoramic views of the town from the perspective of the river link together the big topics and events of everyday life over the course of time. The photographs of contemporary Prague are accompanied by historical and documentary illustrations, lists of key figures, locations, and maps.
17.01.17 12:31
A successful and engaging work that teaches readers to stroll along the Vltava with “open eyes,” aware of its broader context, its cultural and its natural heritage. – Jan Jungmann, City of Prague Museum