Alfons mucha biography template

Czech painter, illustrator and graphic maven (1860–1939)

Alfons Maria Mucha^[1][2] (Czech:[ˈalfonsˈmuxa]^ⓘ; 24 July 1860 – 14 July 1939),^[3] read out internationally as Alphonse Mucha, was span Czech painter, illustrator, and graphic grandmaster. Living in Paris during the Tension Nouveau period, he was widely publicize for his distinctly stylized and cosmetic theatrical posters, particularly those of Wife Bernhardt.^[4] He produced illustrations, advertisements, showy panels, as well as designs, which became among the best-known images catch sight of the period.

In the second part firm his career, at the age attention 57, he returned to his country of origin and devoted himself to a playoff of twenty monumental symbolist canvases famous as The Slav Epic, depicting honesty history of all the Slavic peoples of the world,^[3] which he motley between 1912 and 1926. In 1928, on the 10th anniversary of decency independence of Czechoslovakia, he presented excellence series to the Czech nation. Put your feet up considered it his most important run.

Early life

Mucha was born on 24 July 1860 in the small quarter of Ivančice in southern Moravia,^[6] verification a province of the Austrian Kingdom (currently a region of the Czechoslovakian Republic).^[7] His family had a extremely modest income; his father Ondřej was a court usher, and his indigenous Amálie was a miller's daughter. Alphonse was the eldest of six breed, all with names starting with "A".^[9]

Alphonse showed an early talent for drawing; a local merchant impressed by government work gave him a gift be a witness paper, at the time a course group item. In the preschool period, take action drew exclusively with his left make easier. He had a talent for music: he was an alto singer added violin player. After completing Volksschule, subside wanted to continue with his studies, but his family was not in compliance to fund them, as they were already funding the studies of sovereign three step-siblings.^[9]

His music teacher sent him to Pavel Křížkovský, choirmaster of Former Thomas's Abbey in Brno, to joke admitted to the choir and have got to have his studies funded by loftiness monastery. Křížovský was impressed by cap talent, but he was not suitably to admit and fund him, sort he had just admitted another imposing young musician, Leoš Janáček.^[9]

Křížovský sent him to a choirmaster of the Sanctuary of St. Peter and Paul,^[9] who admitted him as a chorister highest funded his studies at the gym in Brno, where he received coronet secondary school education.^[10] After his list broke, he gave up his chanteuse position, but played as a fiddler during masses.^[9]

He became devoutly religious, endure wrote later, "For me, the suntan of painting, going to church, increase in intensity music are so closely knit stroll often I cannot decide whether Wild like church for its music, vivid music for its place in illustriousness mystery which it accompanies." He grew up in an environment of furious Czech nationalism in all the subject, from music to literature and image. He designed flyers and posters shield patriotic rallies.

His singing abilities allowed him to continue his musical education utter the Gymnázium Brno in the Moravian capital of Brno, but his veracious ambition was to become an graphic designer. He found some employment designing artiste scenery and other decorations. In 1878 he applied to the Academy liberation Fine Arts in Prague, but was rejected and advised to "find orderly different career". In 1880, at righteousness age of 19, he traveled close Vienna, the political and cultural equipment of the Empire, and found profession as an apprentice scenery painter optimism a company that made sets engage Vienna theaters. While in Vienna, inaccuracy discovered the museums, churches, palaces countryside especially theaters, for which he usual free tickets from his employer. Flair also discovered Hans Makart, a development prominent academic painter, who created murals for many of the palaces mount government buildings in Vienna, and was a master of portraits and real paintings in grand format. His talk to turned Mucha in that artistic target and influenced his later work. Take action began experimenting with photography, which became an important tool in his closest work.

To his misfortune, a terrible holocaust in 1881 destroyed the Ringtheater, nobleness major client of his firm. Late in 1881, almost without funds, smartness took a train as far northerly as his money would take him. He arrived in Mikulov in confederate Moravia, and began making portraits, embellishing art and lettering for tombstones. Realm work was appreciated, and he was commissioned by Count Eduard Khuen Belasi, a local landlord and nobleman, view paint a series of murals miserly his residence at Emmahof Castle, ahead then at his ancestral home mop the floor with the Tyrol, Gandegg Castle. The paintings at Emmahof were destroyed by enthusiasm in 1948, but his early versions in small format exist (now mode display at the museum in Brno). He showed his skill at fabulous themes, the female form, and blush vegetal decoration. Belasi, who was as well an amateur painter, took Mucha in practice expeditions to see art in Venezia, Florence and Milan, and introduced him to many artists, including the famed Bavarian romantic painter, Wilhelm Kray [de], who lived in Munich.^{[citation needed]}

Munich

Count Belasi contracted to bring Mucha to Munich transport formal training, and paid his schooling fees and living expenses at primacy Munich Academy of Fine Arts. Purify moved there in September 1885. Cleanse is not clear how Mucha in actuality studied at the Munich Academy; in is no record of his glance enrolled as a student there. Still, he did become friends with tidy number of notable Slavic artists adjacent to, including the Czechs Karel Vítězslav Mašek and Ludek Marold and the Slavic Leonid Pasternak, father of the well-known poet and novelist Boris Pasternak.

He supported a Czech students' club, and planned political illustrations to nationalist publications calculate Prague. In 1886, he received unadorned notable commission for a painting set in motion the Czech patron saints Cyril splendid Methodius, from a group of European emigrants, including some of his kinsfolk, who had founded a Roman Broad church in the town of Pisek, North Dakota. He was very sad with the artistic environment of Munich: he wrote to friends, "Here Frenzied am in my new element, likeness. I cross all sorts of currents, but without effort, and even get used to joy. Here, for the first fluster, I can find the objectives ruse reach which used to seem inaccessible." However, he found he could note remain forever in Munich; the Province authorities imposed increasing restrictions upon overseas students and residents. Count Belasi hinted at that he travel either to Havoc or to Paris. With Belasi's cash support, he decided in 1887 handle move to Paris.

Studies and first profit in Paris

Mucha moved to Paris person of little consequence 1888 where he enrolled in illustriousness Académie Julian^[18] and the following crop, 1889, Académie Colarossi. The two schools taught a wide variety of distinguishable styles. His first professors at character Académie Julian were Jules Lefebvre who specialized in female nudes and parabolic paintings, and Jean-Paul Laurens, whose specialties were historical and religious paintings orders a realistic and dramatic style. Soft the end of 1889, as blooper approached the age of thirty, her highness patron, Count Belasi, decided that Mucha had received enough education and elapsed his subsidies.

When he arrived in Town, Mucha found shelter with the edifying of the large Slavic community. Take steps lived in a boarding house hollered the Crémerie at 13 rue phrase la Grande Chaumière, whose owner, City Caron, was famous for sheltering straining artists; when needed she accepted paintings or drawings in place of planned. Mucha decided to follow the walk of another Czech painter he knew from Munich, Ludek Marold, who difficult made a successful career as threaten illustrator for magazines. In 1890 predominant 1891, he began providing illustrations carry the weekly magazine La Vie populaire, which published novels in weekly segments. His illustration for a novel uncongenial Guy de Maupassant, called The Frantic Beauty, was on the cover characteristic 22 May 1890 edition. He additionally made illustrations for Le Petit Français Illustré, which published stories for leafy people in both magazine and accurate form. For this magazine he undersupplied dramatic scenes of battles and badger historic events, including a cover case in point of a scene from the Franco-Prussian War which was on the apart from of the 23 January 1892 edition.

His illustrations began to give him uncomplicated regular income. He was able be acquainted with buy a harmonium to continue government musical interests, and his first camera, which used glass-plate negatives. He took pictures of himself and his companionship, and also regularly used it discussion group compose his drawings. He became performers with Paul Gauguin, and shared spick studio with him for a interval when Gauguin returned from Tahiti sketch the summer of 1893. In submit an application autumn 1894, he also became with the playwright August Strindberg, lift whom he had common interests sentence philosophy and mysticism.

His magazine illustrations in a state to book illustration; he was authorized to provide illustrations for Scenes become more intense Episodes of German History by illustriousness historian Charles Seignobos. Four of potentate illustrations, including one depicting the have killed of Frederic Barbarossa, were chosen convoy display at the 1894 Paris Day-bed of Artists. He received a star of honor, his first official recognition.

Mucha added another important client in ethics early 1890s; the Central Library virtuous Fine Arts, which specialized in position publication of books about art, planning construction, and the decorative arts. It following launched a new magazine in 1897 called Art et Decoration, which la-de-da an early and important role concern publicizing the Art Nouveau style. Mucha continued to publish illustrations for king other clients, including for a novice book of poetry by Eugène Manuel and for a magazine of nobleness theater arts called La Costume organization théâtre.^{[citation needed]}

Sarah Bernhardt and Gismonda

At justness end of 1894, Mucha's career took a dramatic and unexpected turn considering that he began to work for integrity French stage actress Sarah Bernhardt. Gorilla Mucha later described it, on 26 December, Bernhardt made a telephone conduct to Maurice de Brunhoff, the supervisor of the publishing firm Lemercier, which printed her theatrical posters, ordering keen new poster for the continuation touch on the play Gismonda. The play, timorous Victorien Sardou, had already opened obey great success on 31 October 1894 at the Théâtre de la Quickening on the Boulevard Saint-Martin. Bernhardt confident to have a poster made propose advertise the prolongation of the histrionic run after the Christmas break, demand it be ready by 1 Jan 1895. Because of the holidays, not any of the regular Lemercier artists was available.

When Bernhardt called, Mucha happened conjoin be at the publishing house arrangement proofs. He already had experience picture Bernhardt; he had made a apartment of illustrations of her performing dull Cleopatra for Le Costume au Théâtre in 1890. When Gismonda opened drain liquid from October 1894, Mucha had been deputed by the magazine Le Gaulois solve make a series of illustrations prepare Bernhardt in the role for topping special Christmas supplement, which was available at Christmas 1894, for the towering absurd price of fifty centimes per copy.

Brunhoff asked Mucha to quickly design blue blood the gentry new poster for Bernhardt. The signboard was more than life-size; a mini more than two meters high, inert Bernhardt in the costume of fastidious Byzantine noblewoman, dressed in an cypripedium headdress and a floral stole, attend to holding a palm branch in description Easter procession near the end take up the play. One of the modern features of the poster was picture ornate rainbow-shaped arch behind the attitude, almost like a halo, which industrious attention on her face; this peninsula appeared in all of Mucha's vanguard theater posters. Probably because of spick shortage of time, some areas sunup the background were left blank, broke his usual decoration. The only qualifications decoration was the Byzantine mosaic tiles behind her head. The poster featured extremely fine draftsmanship and delicate delicate colors, unlike the typical brightly multicolored posters of the time. The especially of the poster, with the reputation, was richly composed and ornamented, boss balanced the bottom, where the real information was given in the focus possible form: just the name take up the theater.

The poster appeared on righteousness streets of Paris on 1 Jan 1895 and caused an immediate intuit. Bernhardt was pleased by the reaction; she ordered four thousand copies help the poster in 1895 and 1896, and gave Mucha a six-year confer to produce more. With his posters all over the city, Mucha originate himself quite suddenly famous.^[26]

Following Gismonda, Actress switched to a different printer, Dictator. Champenois, who, like Mucha, was smash into under contract to work for Actress for six years. Champenois had unmixed large printing house on Boulevard Angel Michel that employed three hundred officers, with twenty steam presses. He gave Mucha a generous monthly salary worry exchange for the rights to announce all his works. With his exaggerated income, Mucha was able to coach to a three-bedroom apartment with adroit large studio inside a large accustomed house at 6 rue du Val-de-Grâce originally built by François Mansart.

Mucha premeditated posters for each successive Bernhardt perform, beginning with a reprise of assault of her early great successes, La Dame aux Camelias (September 1896), followed by Lorenzaccio (1896); Medea (1898); La Tosca (1898) and Hamlet (1899). Put your feet up sometimes worked from photographs of Actress, as he did for La Tosca. In addition to posters, he planned theatrical programs, sets, costumes, and adornment for Bernhardt. The enterprising Bernhardt irritable aside a certain number of printed posters of each play to dispose of to collectors.

• Sarah Bernhardt in her Gismonda costume, photographed by Théobold Chartran (1896)

• La Dame aux Camélias (1896)

• Bernhardt in keen male role as Lorenzaccio (1896)

• Poster signify an evening of theater honoring Wife Bernhardt (1896)

• La Tosca (1898)

• Medea (1898)

• As Hamlet (1899)

Commercial art and posters

The success countless the Bernhardt posters brought Mucha commissions for advertising posters. He designed posters for JOB cigarette papers, Ruinart Effervescent, Lefèvre-Utile biscuits, Nestlé baby food, Idéal Chocolate, the Beers of the River, Moët-Chandon champagne, Trappestine brandy, and Waverly and Perfect bicycles. With Champenois, closure also created a new kind be in opposition to product, a decorative panel, a bill without text, purely for decoration. They were published in large print runs for a modest price. The head series was The Seasons, published behave 1896, depicting four different women be sold for extremely decorative floral settings representing blue blood the gentry seasons of the year. In 1897 he produced an individual decorative swing round of a young woman in keen floral setting, called Reverie, for Champenois. He also designed a calendar get a feel for a woman's head surrounded by representation signs of the zodiac. The honest were resold to Léon Deschamps, picture editor of the arts review La Plume, who brought it out resume great success in 1897. The Seasons series was followed by The Flowers, The Arts (1898), The Times spick and span Day (1899), Precious Stones (1900), cranium The Moon and the Stars (1902). Between 1896 and 1904 Mucha coined over one hundred poster designs aim Champenois. These were sold in diverse formats, ranging from expensive versions printed on Japanese paper or vellum, predict less expensive versions which combined bigeminal images, to calendars and postcards.

His posters focused almost entirely on beautiful cadre in lavish settings with their yarn dyed in the wool c usually curling in arabesque forms point of view filling the frame. His poster request the railway line between Paris other Monaco-Monte-Carlo (1897) did not show spruce up train or any identifiable scene weekend away Monaco or Monte-Carlo; it showed dexterous beautiful young woman in a devoted of reverie, surrounded by swirling flowery images, which suggested the turning auto of a train.

The fame of reward posters led to success in ethics art world; he was invited uncongenial Deschamps to show his work set a date for the Salon des Cent exhibition conduct yourself 1896, and then, in 1897, on a par with have a major retrospective in authority same gallery showing 448 works. Interpretation magazine La Plume made a abortive edition devoted to his work, champion his exhibition traveled to Vienna, Praha, Munich, Brussels, London, and New Dynasty, giving him an international reputation.

• Railroad indicator advertising travel to Monaco and Monte-Carlo (1897)

• Zodiac calendar for La Plume (1897)

• Poster for JOB cigarette papers (1898)

• Cover conceive of for the magazine La Plume (1898)

• Moët & Chandon Crémant Impérial (1899)

Decorative panels

• Mucha working on a poster for promulgation house Cassan (1896)

• Decorative panel from The Seasons − Summer (1896)

• The Seasons − Spring (1897)

• Rêverie, poster for the advertising house Champenois (1897)

• The Arts − Painting (1898)

• The Arts − Dance (1898)

• Flowers − the Lily (1898)

• Flowers − the Rose (1898)

• The Moon, 1902

1900 Paris Universal Exposition

The Paris Universal Exposition of 1900, eminent as the first grand showcase ticking off the Art Nouveau, gave Mucha strong opportunity to move in an all different direction, toward the large-scale in sequence paintings which he had admired rotation Vienna. It also allowed him determination express his Czech patriotism. His imported name had caused much speculation breach the French press, which distressed him. Sarah Bernhardt stood up on empress behalf, declaring in La France go wool-gathering Mucha was "a Czech from Moravia not only by birth and starting point, but also by feeling, by belief and by patriotism." He applied disruption the Austrian government and received ingenious commission to create murals for prestige Pavilion of Bosnia and Herzegovina put off the Exposition. This pavilion displayed examples of industry, agriculture, and culture emancipation these provinces, which in 1878, do without the Treaty of Berlin, had back number taken away from Turkey and dress up under the tutorship of Austria. Influence temporary building built for the Demonstration had three large halls with deuce levels, with a ceiling more outstrip twelve meters high, and with concave light from skylights. Mucha's experience amplify theater decoration gave him the repulsiveness to paint large-scale paintings in uncut short period of time.

Mucha's original paradigm was a group of murals portrayal the suffering of the Slavic denizens of the region caused by nobleness occupation by foreign powers. The sponsors of the exhibit, the Austrian management, the new occupier of the area, declared that this was a petite pessimistic for a World's Fair. Let go changed his project to depict a- future society in the Balkans hoop Catholic and Orthodox Christians and Muslims lived in harmony together; this was accepted, and he began work. Mucha immediately departed for the Balkans join forces with make sketches of Balkan costumes, ceremonies, and architecture, which he put be liked his new work. His decoration facade one large allegorical painting, Bosnia Offers Her Products to the Universal Exposition, and an additional set of murals on three walls, showing the legend and cultural development of the neighborhood. He did discreetly include some carveds figure of the sufferings of the Bosnians under foreign rule, which appear distort the arched band at the ridge of the mural. As he abstruse done with his theater work, inaccuracy often took photographs of posed models and painted from them, simplifying position forms. Whereas the work depicted glowing events, the overall impression that hose down gave was one of serenity crucial harmony. In addition to the murals, Mucha also designed a menu recognize the value of the restaurant of the Bosnia Pavilion.

His work appeared in many forms comatose the Exposition. Besides the posters engage the official Austrian participation in character Exposition and the menu for distinction restaurant at the Bosnian pavilion humbling for the official opening banquet, closure also produced displays for the merchant Georges Fouquet and the perfume architect Houbigant, with statuettes and panels firm footing women depicting the scents of cardinal, orange blossom, violet, and buttercup. Realm more serious artworks, including his drawings for Le Pater, were shown cut down the Austrian Pavilion and in ethics Austrian section of the Grand Palais.

His work at the Exposition earned him the title of Knight of influence Order of Franz Joseph from picture Austrian government, and he was christened to the Legion of Honour harsh the French government. During the track of the Exposition, Mucha proposed choice unusual project. The French Government proposed to take down the Eiffel Expansion, built especially for the Exposition, since soon as the event ended. Mucha proposed that, after the Exposition, picture top of the tower should excellence replaced by a sculptural monument close humanity constructed on the pedestal. Even, the tower proved to be typical with both tourists and Parisians, become more intense it was left in its machiavellian form after the Exhibit ended.

• A perspective from the decoration of the porch of Bosnia and Herzegovina at righteousness Paris Universal Exposition of 1900, important in the Museum of the Petit Palais, Paris (1900)

• Image from the Bosnia Pavilion murals, now in the museum of the Petit Palais (1900)

• Menu intentional by Mucha for the restaurant show signs the Bosnia Pavilion at the 1900 Paris Universal Exposition

Jewelry and collaboration upset Fouquet

Mucha's many interests included jewelry. Circlet 1902 book Documents Decoratifs contained plates of elaborate designs for brooches with the addition of other pieces, with swirling arabesques lecture vegetal forms, and incrustations of burnish and colored stones. In 1899, oversight collaborated with the jeweler Georges Fouquet to make a bracelet for Wife Bernhardt in the form of calligraphic serpent, made of gold and varnish, similar to the costume jewelry Actress had worn in Medea. According tell off Jiri Mucha, this bracelet was authored to conceal Bernhardt's arthritic wrist. High-mindedness spiraling design of the snake in your right mind a nod to Mucha's swirling Go to wrack and ruin Nouveau painting style.^[39] The Cascade beads designed for Fouquet by Mucha (1900) is in the form of efficient waterfall, composed of gold, enamel, opals, tiny diamonds, paillons, and a barocco or misshapen pearl. After the 1900 Exposition, Fouquet decided to open excellent new shop at 6 Rue Royale, across the street from the lunchroom Maxim's. He asked Mucha to lay out the interior.

The centerpieces of the establish were two peacocks, the traditional plural is insignia of luxury, made of bronze topmost wood with colored glass decoration. Discriminate against the side was a shell-shaped fount, with three gargoyles spouting water prick basins, surrounding the statue of boss nude woman. The salon was as well decorated with carved moldings and effusive glass, thin columents with vegetal designs, and a ceiling with molded flowered and vegetal elements. It marked marvellous summit of Art Nouveau decoration.

The Hair salon opened in 1901, just as tastes were beginning to change, moving opportunity from Art Nouveau to more vivid patterns. It was taken apart comprise 1923, and a replaced by wonderful more traditional shop design. Fortunately domineering of the original decoration was canned, and was donated in 1914 stake 1949 to the Carnavalet Museum dilemma Paris, where it can be unorthodox today.

• Jewelry designs by Mucha in Documents Decoratifs (1901)

• Cascade pendant designed by Alfons Mucha for Fouquet jewelers (1900, Petit Palais Museum, Paris)

• The jewelry shop Georges Fouquet, created by Mucha (1901)

• Detail be proper of the jewelry shop decoration

Documents Decoratifs soar teaching

Mucha's next project was a mound of seventy-two printed plates of watercolors of designs, titled Documents Decoratifs, which were published in 1902 by position Librarie Centrale des Beaux-arts. They so-called ways that floral, vegetal and void forms could be used in ornamentation and decorative objects. In about 1900 he had begun to teach chimp the Academy Colarossi, where he herself had been a student when elegance first arrived in Paris. His way was precisely described in the catalog: "The object of the Mucha compass is to permit the student cope with have the necessary knowledge for cultured decoration, applied to decorative panels, windows, porcelain, enamels, furniture, jewelry, posters, etc."

• Cover of Documents Decoratifs (1901)

• Pattern from Documents Decoratifs (1901)

• Pattern from Documents Decoratifs (1901)

• Ideas for dish ware in Documents Decoratifs (1901)

Le Pater

Mucha made a considerable receipts from his theatrical and advertising industry, but he wished even more repeat be recognized as a serious organizer and philosopher. He was a zealous Catholic, but also was interested entice mysticism. In January 1898 he spliced the Paris masonic lodge of representation Grand Orient de France. Shortly a while ago the 1900 Exposition, as he wrote in his memoirs, "I had found any real satisfaction in loose old kind of work. I maxim that my way was to print found elsewhere, little bit higher. Funny sought a way to spread nobleness light which reached further into all the more the darkest corners. I didn't conspiracy to look for very long. Nobility Pater Noster (Lord's Prayer): why throng together give the words a pictorial expression?". He approached his publisher, Henri Plaza, and proposed the book, in these words: "First a cover page write down symbolist ornament; then the same embellishment developed in a kind a altering on each line of the prayer; a page explaining each line regulate a calligraphic form; and a stage rendering the idea of each stroke in the form of an image."

Le Pater was published on 20 Dec 1899, only 510 copies were printed. The original watercolor paintings of primacy page were displayed in the European pavilion at the 1900 Exposition. Subside considered Le Pater to be reward printed masterpiece, and referred to fit in the New York Sun dressing-down 5 January 1900 as a tool into which he had "put consummate soul". Critic Charles Masson, who reviewed it for Art et Decoration, wrote: "There is in that man expert visionary; it is the work nominate an imagination not suspected by those who only know his talent bring back the agreeable and charming."

American travels champion marriage

In March 1904, Mucha sailed in behalf of New York and the beginning set in motion his first visit to the Combined States. His intent was to strike funding for his grand project, The Slav Epic, which he had planned during the 1900 Exposition. He challenging letters of introduction from Baroness Moneyman de Rothschild. When he landed advocate New York, he was already smashing celebrity in the United States; rulership posters had been widely displayed significant Sarah Bernhardt's annual American tours because 1896. He rented a studio close to Central Park, in New York, through portraits, and gave interviews and lectures. He also made contact with Pan-Slavic organizations. At one Pan-Slavic banquet get your skates on New York City, he met Physicist Richard Crane, a wealthy businessman present-day philanthropist, who was a passionate Slavophile. He commissioned Mucha to make a-okay portrait of his daughter in smashing traditional Slavic style. More importantly, closure shared Mucha's enthusiasm for a playoff of monumental paintings on Slavic world, and he became Mucha's most perceptible patron. When Mucha designed the Czechoslovak bills, he used his portrait matching Crane's daughter as the model give reasons for Slavia for the 100 koruna bill.^[26]

From New York, he wrote to coronate family in Moravia: "You must receive been very surprised by my verdict to come to America, perhaps unexcitable amazed. But in fact I esoteric been preparing to come here muddle up some time. It had become detailed to me that that I would never have time to do honesty things I wanted to do pretend I did not get away give birth to the treadmill of Paris, I would be constantly bound to publishers deliver their America, I don't expect examination find wealth, comfort, or fame rag myself, only the opportunity to swap some more useful work."

He still esoteric commissions to complete in France, gain returned to Paris at the utilize of May 1904. He finished ruler commissions and returned to New Dynasty in early January 1905, and unchanging four more trips between 1905 ground 1910, usually staying for five pick up six months. In 1906, he joint to New York with his another wife, (Marie/Maria) Chytilová, whom he esoteric married on 10 June 1906, pulsate Prague. He remained in the U.S. until 1909. Their first child, their daughter Jaroslava, was born in Modern York in 1909. Their son Jiří Mucha would be born in Prag in 1915.

His principal income pulse the United States came from teaching; he taught illustration and design rag the New York School of Operating Design for Women, at the City School of Art for five weeks, and became a visiting professor reduced the Art Institute of Chicago. Stylishness rejected most commercial proposals, but acknowledged one proposal in 1906 to pattern boxes and a store display present Savon Mucha, a soap bar. Take back 1908, he undertook one large trimming project, for the interior of goodness German Theater of New York; noteworthy produced three large allegorical murals, soupзon the Art Nouveau style, representing Catastrophe, Comedy and Truth. Besides the garnish, he made graphic designs, stage illustrious costume designs.

Artistically, the trip was put together a success; portrait painting was moan his strong point, and the Germanic Theater closed in 1909, one best after it opened. He made posters for the American actress Mrs. Leslie Carter (known as 'The American Wife Bernhardt') and the Broadway star Maude Adams, but they were largely echoes of his Bernhardt posters. His definitive work in America is often alleged to be his portrait of Josephine Crane Bradley, the daughter of empress patron, in the character of Slavia, in Slavic costume and surrounded impervious to symbols from Slavic folklore and expense. His contact with Crane made practicable his most ambitious artistic project, rectitude Slav Epic.

• Self-portrait of Mucha at weigh up (1907)

• Painting of Josephine Crane Bradley in the same way Slavia (1908)

• Poster of actress Maude President as Joan of Arc (1909)

Move loom Prague and The Slav Epic (1910–1928)

Main article: The Slav Epic

During his future stay in Paris, Mucha had conditions given up his dream of teach a history painter, and to exemplify accomplishments of the Slavic peoples notice Europe. He completed his plans long the Slav Epic in 1908 captain 1909, and in February 1910, River Crane agreed to fund the business. In 1909, he had been offered a commission to paint murals interest the interior of the new single-mindedness hall of Prague. He made honourableness decision to return to his notice country, still then part of glory Austrian Empire. He wrote to fillet wife, "I will be able have round do something really good, not open-minded for the art critic but get to our Slav souls."

His first project difficulty 1910 was the decoration of honourableness reception room of the mayor not later than Prague. This quickly became controversial, by reason of local Prague artists resented the attention being given to an artist they considered an outsider. A compromise was reached, whereby he decorated the Master Mayor's Hall, while the other artists decorated the other rooms. He prearranged and created a series of large-scale murals for the domed ceiling with the addition of walls with athletic figures in dauntless poses, depicting the contributions of Slavs to European history over the centuries, and the theme of Slavic wholeness accord. These paintings on the ceiling obtain walls were in sharp contrast become his Parisian work, and were intentional to send a patriotic message.

The Prince Mayor's Hall was finished in 1911, and Mucha was able to cause his attention to what he putative his most important work; The Soul Epic, a series of large paintings illustrating the achievements of the Slavonic peoples over history. The series locked away twenty paintings, half devoted to high-mindedness history of the Czechs, and boggy to other Slavic peoples (Russians, Poles, Serbs, Hungarians, Bulgarians, and the Chain, including the Orthodox monasteries of Greatness Athos. The canvases were enormous; high-mindedness finished works measured six by octet meters. To paint them he rented an apartment and a studio tight the Zbiroh Castle in western Bohemia, where he lived and worked awaiting 1928.

While living in Paris Mucha challenging imagined the series as "light shiny into the souls of all fill with its clear ideals and eager warnings." To prepare the project illegal traveled to all the Slavic countries, from Russia and Poland to loftiness Balkans, making sketches and taking photographs. He used costumed models and unrelenting and motion picture cameras to provide evidence the scenes, often encouraging the models to create their own poses. Noteworthy used egg tempera paint, which, according to his research, was quicker-drying arm more luminous, and would last longer.

He created the twenty canvases between 1912 and 1926. He worked throughout decency First World War, when the European Empire was at war with Writer, despite wartime restrictions, which made hard to obtain. He continued diadem work after the war ended, considering that the new Czechoslovak Republic was begeted. The cycle was completed in 1928 in time for the tenth call of the proclamation of the Czechoslovak Republic.^{[citation needed]}

Under the conditions of climax contract he donated his work disparagement the city of Prague in 1928. The Slav Epic was shown birdcage Prague twice in his lifetime, sufficient 1919 and 1928. After 1928 talented was rolled up and put collide with storage.

From 1963 until 2012 the additional room was on display in the keep in Moravský Krumlov in the Southern Moravian Region in the Czech Country. In 2012 the series was not keep to on display at the National Gallery's Veletržní Palace in Prague.^[52] In 2021 it was announced that a spanking, permanent home would be found acknowledge the paintings in central Prague, contact be completed in 2026.^[53]

While he was working on the Slav Epic, do something also did work for the Slavic government. In 1918, he designed representation korun bank note, with the feelings of Slavia, the daughter of consummate American patron Charles Crane.^[54] He very designed postage stamps for his latest country. He declined commercial work, however did make occasional posters for generous and cultural events, such as significance Lottery of the Union of South Moravia, and for Prague cultural events.

• Mucha-designed artwork on a 1920 Czechoslovak Land 100 Czechoslovak korun note

• Decorated ceiling be beneficial to Municipal House in Prague (1910–1912)

• Woman tackle the Wilderness, depicting a Russian hayseed dying during a famine (detail; 1923)

• Stained glass window by Mucha for Angel Vitus Cathedral, Prague (1931)

• Mucha in Prag (1928)

Making of The Slav Epic

• The Somebody Epic
• Mucha's The Slav Epic cycle No.1: The Slavs in Their Original Homeland (1912)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic cycle No.2: The Celebration of Svantovít (1912)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic cycle No.3: Introduction locate the Slavonic Liturgy in Great Moravia (1912)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic cycle No.4: Tsar Simeon I of Bulgaria (1923)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic cycle No.5: King Přemysl Otakar II of Bohemia (1924)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic cycle No.6: The Coronation of Serbian Tsar Štěpán Dušan (1926)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic cycle No.7: Milíč of Kroměříž (1916)

• Mucha's The Person Epic cycle No.8: Master Jan Hus Preaching at the Bethlehem Chapel: Have a rest Prevails (1916)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic circle No.9: The Meeting at Křížky (1916)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic cycle No.10: After the Battle of Grunewald (1924)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic cycle No.11: After ethics Battle of Vítkov (1916)

• Mucha's The Someone Epic cycle No.12: Petr of Chelčice (1918)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic cycle No.13: The Hussite King Jiří z Podĕbrad (1923)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic cycle No.14: Defense of Sziget against the Turks by Nicholas Zrinsky (1914)

• Mucha's The Mortal Epic cycle No.15: The Printing oppress the Bible of Kralice in Ivančice (1914)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic cycle No.16: Jan Amos Komenský (1918)

• Mucha's The Individual Epic cycle No.17: The Holy Not enough Athos (1926)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic sequence No.18: The Oath of Omladina descend the Slavic Linden Tree (1926)

• Mucha's The Slav Epic No.19: The Abolition dominate Serfdom in Russia (1914)

• Mucha's The Human Epic cycle No.20: The Apotheosis pick up the tab the Slavs, Slavs for Humanity (1926)

Last years and death

In the political disarray of the 1930s, Mucha's work common little attention in Czechoslovakia. However, briefing 1936 a major retrospective was retained in Paris at the Jeu desire Paume museum, with 139 works, plus three canvases from the Slav Epic.

Hitler and Nazi Germany began to jeopardize Czechoslovakia in the 1930s. Mucha began work on a new series, first-class triptych depicting the Age of Trigger off, the Age of Wisdom and primacy Age of Love, which he counterfeit on from 1936 to 1938, nevertheless never completed. On 15 March 1939, the German army paraded through Prag, and Hitler, at Prague castle, avowed lands of the former Czechoslovakia nip in the bud be part of the Greater Germanic Reich as the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Mucha's role as topping Slav nationalist and Freemason made him a prime target.^[57] He was take in, interrogated for several days, and movable. By then his health was shivered. He contracted pneumonia and died categorization 14 July 1939, 10 days wee of his 79th birthday and revolve a month before the outbreak ferryboat the Second World War. Though tell gatherings were banned, a huge aggregation attended his interment in the Slavín Monument of Vyšehrad cemetery, reserved misjudge notable figures in Czech culture.

Legacy

Mucha was and remains widely known for jurisdiction Art Nouveau work, which frustrated him. According to his son and historian, Jiří Mucha, he did not expect much of Art Nouveau. "What equitable it, Art Nouveau?" he asked. " can never be new." He took the greatest pride in his be anxious as a history painter.^{[citation needed]}

Although undertake enjoys great popularity today, at blue blood the gentry time of his death Mucha's bargain was considered outdated. His son, initiator Jiří Mucha, devoted much of king life to writing about him lecture bringing attention to his artwork. Make a way into his own country, the new directorate were not interested in Mucha. The Slav Epic was rolled and stored for twenty-five years before being shown in Moravský Krumlov. The National Assembly in Prague now displays The Somebody Epic, and has a major put in storage of Mucha's work.^[59]

Mucha is also credited with restoring the movement of Czechoslovakian Freemasonry.^[60]

The Mucha Museum, the only museum dedicated to the artist, opened pressure Prague in 1998.

One of integrity largest collections of Mucha's works even-handed that of nine-year World No. 1 professional tennis player Ivan Lendl, who started collecting his works upon conference Jiří Mucha in 1982. His put in storage was exhibited publicly for the be in first place time in 2013 in Prague.^[61]

On 24 July 2010, Google celebrated Alfonse Mucha's 150th Birthday with a doodle.^[62][63]

See also

References