Page:Dr. Miroslav Tyrš, the founder of the Sokol Union (1920).pdf/13

 become the champion and defender of young Czech sculptors and painters, he enthusiastically propagated the work of Josef Manes („We let him nearly perish during his life; let us keep at least his beautiful work, left to such ungrateful heirs!“), of Jaroslav Čermák, of Myslbek, Šnirch, Ženíšek and Brožík. He was asked to give his opinion on artistic Juries and thoto [sic] act as Critic on art expositions. He paid great attention to the artistic decoration of the National Theatre, rose against German schools, awoke interest for West-European art and intervened successfully in questions regarding the restauration of national buildings and works of art. His feeling in these matters was very delicate, his comprehension of the style and the spirit of the time far above the opinion of his contemporaries. Intending to edit a History of plastic art, he prepared himself for it by profound studies. He wrote a series of articles, of which the following deserve mention: „Laokon“ 1872, „The model of Zeus of Otrikol“ 1874, „Phidias, Myron and Polyklet“ 1879, „On the Gothic Style“ 1881, and On the Importance of Studying Ancient Oriental Art 1883. In 1884 he reluctantly relinquished his activities in the Sokol-union and devoted himself entirely to scientific studies. Since 1882 he was lecturer on history of art at the University of Prague and in 1883 he occupied the chair of assistant–professor on the same subject.

On his promotion he was so weak that he could not leave his room to take the prescribed oath. He suffered from headaches, giddinesgiddiness [sic], and sleepless nights. His forces began to wane after the arduous strain. The doctors advised him to take a rest. And in July 1884 he started for Tyrol.

In the village of Oetz-on-the-Aach (an affluent of the Inn) he took a room in the inn of Tobias Haida, and used to take long country walks. He was always alone. In the morning of the 8$th$ of August a Friday, he went to the village Lautens whence he returned no more On August the 21$et$st [sic], his body was found in the waters of the Aach. Tyrš was buried in Fügners grave in the cemetery of Olšany (Prague) on November 9$th$, 1884. A chronicler says that the whole nation wept for him, a proof that he had worked for all“. For many years he had prepared himself for a great work on plastic arts. For a long time he suffered from the hostility of the government and from the ill-will of some competitors who prevented him from becoming a lecturer at the University of Prague. Fate cheated him of success in both of these enterprises. He did not finish his work as he was called too late to the university of his country.

One work, however, he did finish, -