In the 16th century, burgher houses were located on Hradč any Square in Prague, but after the devastating fire of 1541, palaces were built here. One such building is the Schwarzenberg Palace - a majestic building, which looks more like a castle. Its faç ade is decorated with black and white sgraffito paintings, and the palace itself is a fine example of the so-called Czech Renaissance, which is essentially a mixture of Italian Renaissance motifs and Czech traditions.
The construction of the palace was started in 1545 by one of the richest Czech nobles and the chief bourgeois Jan Lobkowicz. The design of the residence was designed by architect Augustine Galli in the style of the Italian Renaissance. The construction of the palace was completed in 1576, and in 1590 the residence was bought by the Supreme Master of the Kingdom of Bohemia Georg Lobkowicz. The Lobkowicz family did not remain the owners of the palace for long: 4 years later George was sentenced to confiscation of property.
Since then, the palace changed owners until 1719, when it passed into the possession of the Schwarzenberg family. In 1723, the new owners began a large-scale reconstruction in the late Baroque style. The architect Thomas Gaffenecker implemented this idea.
Above the facade are lunette cornices, made in the northern Italian style. From afar, it may seem that the walls of the building are lined with pyramidal tiles, but in fact a similar illusion is created by paintings made in sgraffito. The total area of the painted walls is over 7.000 square meters.
The Schwarzenberg dynasty lived in the estate for a long time, but after the Second World War the palace was transferred to the Ministry of Defense of Czechoslovakia, which used this beautiful building to house the Military History Museum. Later, in 1991, the palace was returned to the Schwarzenbergs, but not for long.
Eleven years later, the former museum once again became the county's cultural center, as it now belonged to the National Gallery. The new owners began major restoration work in 2003, which took more than 4 years. From 2008 to the present day, the palace is a museum of Czech Baroque painting.
The construction of the palace was started in 1545 by one of the richest Czech nobles and the chief bourgeois Jan Lobkowicz. The design of the residence was designed by architect Augustine Galli in the style of the Italian Renaissance. The construction of the palace was completed in 1576, and in 1590 the residence was bought by the Supreme Master of the Kingdom of Bohemia Georg Lobkowicz. The Lobkowicz family did not remain the owners of the palace for long: 4 years later George was sentenced to confiscation of property.
Since then, the palace changed owners until 1719, when it passed into the possession of the Schwarzenberg family. In 1723, the new owners began a large-scale reconstruction in the late Baroque style. The architect Thomas Gaffenecker implemented this idea.
Above the facade are lunette cornices, made in the northern Italian style. From afar, it may seem that the walls of the building are lined with pyramidal tiles, but in fact a similar illusion is created by paintings made in sgraffito. The total area of the painted walls is over 7.000 square meters.
The Schwarzenberg dynasty lived in the estate for a long time, but after the Second World War the palace was transferred to the Ministry of Defense of Czechoslovakia, which used this beautiful building to house the Military History Museum. Later, in 1991, the palace was returned to the Schwarzenbergs, but not for long.
Eleven years later, the former museum once again became the county's cultural center, as it now belonged to the National Gallery. The new owners began major restoration work in 2003, which took more than 4 years. From 2008 to the present day, the palace is a museum of Czech Baroque painting.
Translated automatically from Ukrainian. View original
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