The Apotheosis of the Slavs (1926) by Alphonse MuchaPrague City Gallery
The last painting, divided into four colours, summarises the history of the Slavs and the complete "Slav Epic".
In the lower right-hand part the colour is blue: it symbolises ancient time and the Slavs in their original homeland, the time when they worshipped pagan deities.
In the blue section there is also a heathen priest presenting a burnt offering to the gods.
In the upper third of the painting the colour is red, referring to the glorious moments of Slavic history connected with the most important Bohemian rulers, Přemysl Otakar II, Charles IV and the last Bohemian king, George of Poděbrady.
It also celebrates the reformatory ideas of Jan Hus and the success of the Hussite movement.
Under the red one there is a black section, symbolising lost battles and the time of oppression for the Slavs: the invasions of the Franks, Avars and Turks and also 300 years of the oppression of the Czech language after the Battle of White Mountain.
The largest part of the painting is yellow, the colour of joy and freedom.
In 1918, the First World War ended and many Slavic nations achieved freedom after the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
In the lower left-hand part, people are welcoming legionaries returning from abroad.
The women wearing Slavic national costumes are making garlands and preparing the flag for celebrations of independence.
On the right there is an old man thanking God for letting him live to experience freedom.
Behind him are the flags of the winning countries.
On the left we can see representatives of Slavic nations.
The upper part of the painting is dominated by the figure of a Slavic youth with his arms spread out to show that he is finally free.
He is holding wreaths of victory and concord, on which the Czechoslovak tricolour is hung.
Behind him, Christ is blessing all Slavic nations.
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The painting is completed by the rainbow symbolising the most important idea of the whole Slav Epic cycle, which is international peace.
Written on the basis of the "Catalogue for the Exhibition 'The Slav Epic' by Alphonse Mucha"
Published in 2022 by the Municipal Cultural Centre of Moravský Krumlov, náměsti T. G. Masaryka 40, 672 01 Moravský Krumlov
Written by: Bc. Pavla Červinková. Language and history proofreading: Mgr. Šárka Kočí
