18th century painting re-exhibited at National Gallery after almost 100 years

'Phaeton Begging the Chariot of Apollo', photo: CTK

The National Gallery in Prague boasts a new exhibit in its Collection of Old Masters, although new is not quite the word. On the contrary the ceiling canvas "Phaeton Begging the Chariot of Apollo" dates back to the beginning of the 18th century, and has been in the Gallery's possession for many years. But the work was damaged and for almost a hundred years was hidden from visitors. Now it has been painstakingly restored and since Tuesday has been on show in the National Gallery's Sternberg Palace.

'Phaeton Begging the Chariot of Apollo',  photo: CTK
"Phaeton Begging the Chariot of Apollo" is a monumental ceiling canvas painting by the Italian master Francesco Solimena. The work was commissioned by a Habsburg diplomat for his palace in Vienna at the beginning of the 18th century. Later both the palace and the painting came into the hands of the Bohemian aristocratic family - the Kinskys. In 1798 they decided to give the work to the Society of Patriotic Friends of the Arts in Bohemia, the predecessor of the present National Gallery in Prague.

The curator of the project, Jiri Fronek, describes the painting.

"The subject is an episode from the myth of Phaeton. It depicts Phaeton begging Apollo to lend him his chariot. Apollo - Phaeton's father had promised to fulfil any wish his son had, as a way of proving his fatherly love. Phaethon is allowed to drive the chariot across the sky, but he is unable to control the horses and leaves a path of destruction, before being struck dead by Zeus. The myth has been interpreted in many ways, most often as an allegory of 'pride becomes before a fall'."

The restoration work had to be carried out with a special care.

"This is probably the first ever such restoration in the Czech Republic - carried out with the canvas in a horizontal position, but not fixed to a surface. In order to prevent it sagging, it had to be attached at no less than 355 points to a special sort of frame."

The National Gallery decided to place the work in the oval hall of the Sternberg Palace which hosts collections of Old Masters. Alongside presenting the restored painting the Gallery has also decided to reopen the Sternberg Palace garden for the public.

National Gallery spokeswoman Petra Jungwirtova:

"There is a great collection of Old Masters at the Sternberg Palace. We can find there for example Eleonora from Toledo by Mr. Bronsino as well as some other great paintings. Apart from that we are now after five years opening a new space for the public, the palace garden, where you can see sculptures by masters of the 20th century."

And you can find the Sternberg Palace on the square Hradcanske Namesti in Prague just a few steps from Prague Castle on your left. It is open from 10 to 6 pm every day except Mondays.