Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/75

57 of the favourable and generally prosperious condition of the country, and during this time great progress was made; industry flourished, and the fine arts encouraged. Then came the devastating Thirty Years war which destroyed almost every trace of the preceding time of prosperity. But as soon as the clouds of war had passed away and the country was once more in the enjoyment of the blessings of peace there was a rapid recovery from the ills of the terrible thirty years. Architecture shared in the benefits of the quieter times, and at this period was introduced the later renaissance and baroque style which very soon through the genius of the two Dienzenhoffers developed into the well-known and famous characteristic type of Prague which certain critics at one time most injustly nicknamed the „Italian pig-tail“.

At this time a great number of foreigners were engaged to the exclusion of native labour, in the building of new palaces for the nobility. It is easy to understand that the employment of alien workers was not welcomed by the people of the town who naturally thought that the interest of the native workmen ought to have been a first consideration. The history of art in Prague is consistent with its political history, change in the one was reflected in the other. The condition of the once Royal Palace as it is to be seen to-day exhibits all the varied excellencies of the dissimilar styles which at different periods have prevailed.

Although the city authorities have for about ten years past been pulling down a considerable part of the old town and the whole of the ghetto for the purpose of effecting modern sanitary, housing and general improvements, still much remains to interest visitors who will find a particular charm in such buildings as the Malá Strana and Hradčany on the left bank of the river.

The „Križovnické náměstí“ (Place of the Red Cross Order) is a catholic church representative of the later renaissance style, and well repays the trouble of a visit.

The „Zelený Trh“ (Vegetable market) with its arcades of the fourteenth century, is a witness to the growing might of the burghers before the election of Ferdinand I. The house of an enterprising man of the time, stands almost