Page:Bohemia; a brief evaluation of Bohemia's contribution to civilization (1917).pdf/54

 ligious thinkers of the Bohemian nation comes to life again in Bílek’s art. His artistic soul is gentle, dreamy, his nature poetical. His deep and philosophically expressive works in wood, metal, marble, clay and gypsum are the embodiment of the purest Christianity and harmony of faith and love. His great works in religious representation brought Bílek many enthusiastic admirers. His most famous works are Golgotha, Agriculture, Christ, Moses, The Bitter Taste of Earth, The Allegory of the Fall of Bohemia, Hus, The Blind.

Although the ancient Bohemian architecture reveals itself throughout Bohemia in such exquisite forms as to constitute a veritable architectural art museum, our modern architecture did not have favorable conditions for its growth. In spite of this it can point to many beautiful accomplishments. Our architects, Schulz and Zítek, erected in Prague and elsewhere many buildings in the style of the modern Renaissance, such as the Bohemian National Theatre, the Museum at Prague, etc.

Among our modern artists the name of Jan Kotěra has become famous. He is a professor of architecture at the Polytechnical Institute of Prague, the designer of the plans for the new Bohemian University which, however, the Austrian Government, unfriendly to the Bohemian people, did not build.

The Moravian architect, Dušan Jurkovič, gets the inspiration for his work from the architectural spirit of the common folk, and the style of the Bohemian and Slovak peasantry. His architectural works express the national style and preserve the exquisite types and products of the people’s architectural art.

Of great significance for the modern growth of Bohemian Art are the recently organized “Modern Arts Gallery for Bohemia” and the society of Bohemian artists called “Manes”, through the efforts of which our Bohemian art has made most satisfactory progress during the last few years.

We can say with pride today that our Bohemian art, though young, is worthy of any cultured nation.