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East Bohemia

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East Bohemia>Personages

Personages

Alois Jirásek New window.

8/23/1851 - 3/12/1930

Originated from an old rural family. Father was a weaver, later a baker. Attended the German piarist grammar school in Broumov, the Czech grammer school in Hradec Králové and studied history at Prague university. Lived for a long period of time in Litomyšl and held position as a professor of history. Then relocated to Prague. He devoted his life to literature. One of the first to sign the Czech Writers' Manifesto in May 1917.

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Antonín Chittussi New window.

12/1/1847 - 5/1/1891

. Chittussi was born December 1, 1847 in Ronov nad Doubravou. He studied at the Prague Academy and later in Munich and Vienna. He returned to the Prague Academy in 1874, only to be expelled two years later. Chittussi debuted in Prague in 1876 and 1877 at exhibitions of Krasoumná jednota and the Art Forum. In 1878 he enlisted as a soldier to Bosnia, and a year later departed to study in Paris, where he also exhibited. His first collected exhibition was held in Prague in 1885. Chittussi struggled for years to find his artistic direction. He did not apply his talent in figural composition or the genres taught at the Academy. After his forced departure from the Academy he developed an interest in landscape painting, but his first truly accomplished work, "From Trojský Island" was painted in 1878. He gradually became a master of plein air landscapes and a sensitive painter of natural ambience. He entered the subconscious of the young generation with his simple motifs and feeling for the Czech landscape. Chittussi's work didn't gain recognition until after his death on May 1, 1891 in Prague.

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Antonín Slavíček New window.

5/16/1870 - 2/1/1910

. Slavíček was born in Prague on 16.5.1870. After a short stay in Munich he entered the Prague Academy of J. Mařak in 1887. He became a respected leader of the artists of the 1890's (he headed Mařak's school in the years 1894 – 1900) and an original representative of Czech Impressionism. Slavíček’s work was grounded in the temperamental realism of Mařak’s school and was also inspired by the work of A. Chittussi. He reached a distinct level of painting development in 1898 when he began to use a method of coloured smudges that elicited the impression of motion and whirling. He diverted from this technique in 1902. In the spring of 1907 he travelled to Nuremburg, Strasbourg, Paris, and Breton; he returned through Brussels to Bohemia, where he created the majority of his works. In these years he also began to consider permanent relocation to Kameničky, where Slavíček subsequently forged a close relationship with the people and the region. In 1909 he suffered a stroke and became paralyzed; after months of despair he ended his own life on 1.2.1910 in Prague.

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Arnošt of Pardubice New window.

3/25/1297 - 6/30/1364

. According to available sources he was born on 25.3.1297 to the family of Arnošt of Hostýn. Following his studies of law and theology in Italy he returned to Bohemia and one year later became the capitular dean at St. Vitus in Prague. In 1344 he was named the Prague archbishop. In 1344 he laid the foundation stone for St. Vitus Cathedral and three years later conducted the ceremony for the coronation of Charles IV. He was involved in the founding of the first university in Prague – Charles University, and served as its first chancellor. Arnošt of Pardubice is regarded as the patron of the town of Pardubice. He began the construction of a castle in the town and in 1359 commissioned the building of the Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. Arnošt is commemorated in the 1940 marble relief by František Zuzka located in the presbytery of the Church of St. Bartholomew. Arnošt of Pardubice died 30.6.1364 at his chateau in Roudnice nad Labem and was buried in the Church of the Virgin Mary in Kladsko. He was an important personality in the Pardubice Region, and on the occasion of the 640th anniversary of his death on 23 September 2004 the auditorium of the University of Pardubice was name the “Arnošt of Pardubice Auditorium.”

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Bedřich Smetana New window.

3/2/1824 - 5/12/1884

. Smetana was born on 2.3.1824 in Litomyšl. He began to perform at the age of six and amazed listeners with his piano skills; he also began to compose music. He acquired a secondary education in Jihlava, Německý Brod, Prague, and Plzeň. In Prague he served as a teacher for the family of Count Thun. In 1848 Smetana opened his own music school in Prague. He participated in the revolution as a member of the National Guard; in 1865 he decided to leave to Gothenburg for existential reasons and worked as a teacher, conductor, and piano virtuoso. He had a difficult time upon his return to his homeland; he headed the Hlahol Choir, organized and conducted concerts of the Arts Forum, became a reporter for the National Press, performed as a pianist and began to teach again. In 1866, following the success of his operas Brandenburgers in Bohemia and the Bartered Bride, he became the conductor of the Interim Theatre. In 1874 he suffered a serious neurological disorder which caused him to go deaf; he subsequently moved to Jabkenice to be with his daughter. After a short stay in an insane asylum he died in Prague on 12.5.1884 at the age of 60. Smetana is buried in the Vyšehrad Cemetery.

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Bohuslav Martinů New window.

8/8/1890 - 8/28/1959

. Born 8.8.1890 in Polička as the son of cobbler and bank assistant Ferdinand Martinů. He studied the violin for about 6 years, and when he was 15 began to perform as a soloist at local functions. Thanks to his teacher Adolf Vaníček, Martinů entered the Prague Conservatory on 15.9.1906, and from that time on he continued to compose music.However, negligence led to his expulsion from the school. He remained in Prague and diligently studied musical scores, but nevertheless failed his state violin test in November 1911. He finally passed the test a year later. Influenced by Dvořák, Strauss, and Debussy he wrote over 90 pieces by 1912. In 1914 Martinů was named second violinist for the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. He spent the First World War in his hometown working as a violin teacher; in 1919 he returned to Prague. Later he became a guest instructor in the master school of Josef Suk. In 1923 he was awarded a three-month internship in Paris; when it was finished he remained in France and wrote over 140 pieces. He avoided the Nazis by first fleeing to southern France, and later to New York. After 1953 he lived mainly in Europe. Martinů died in Liestal, Switzerland on 28.8.1959. His remains were laid to rest in the cemetery in Polička.

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Božena Němcová New window.

1820 - 1862

Božena Němcová, likely born in 1820 as Barbora Novotná and later known as Barbora Panklová, is regarded as the founder of modern Czech prose. In 1821 the Pankl family moved to Ratibořice and were joined in 1825 by Barbora's grandmother, Magdaléna Novotná, who had a great influence on the young girl. As an adult Němcová idealized the woman greatly in her most famous work, Grandmother. Božena Němcová moved several times during her life - to Prague, Domažlice, where she was active as practically the first national revivalist, and Litomyšl, thanks mainly to the transfer of her husband who worked for the state service and her disagreements with him. Božena Němcová lived her entire life in demeaning poverty, often without enough food to eat. This is in great contrast to the grand funeral nationalists held for her in 1862 and her posthumous fame. Božena Němcová is buried in the cemetery at Vyšehrad.

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Dušan Jurkovič New window.

8/23/1868 - 12/21/1947

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Eliška Rejčka New window.

9/1/1286 - 10/18/1335

Czech queen, widow of Czech kings. She was originally promised to the son of Branibor Margrave Oto Braniborský, but instead in 1300 married Czech King Václav II, whose wife had died. In 1303 she arrived in Prague and was crowned Czech and Polish queen. On this occasion she took the name Elizabeth or also Eliška; Rejčka is a corruption of her original name. Rudolf Hapsburg, who took the unoccupied Czech thrown in 1306, chose her as his second wife.

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František Antonín Špork New window.

1662 - 1738

Born in Kuks in 1738, one of the most important nobles of the Czech Baroque and a great patron of the arts. He established a grand spa in Kuks with a Brothers of Mercy hospital and the Špork family tomb. He entrusted spa ornamentation to the greatest sculptor of the period, Mathias Bernard Braun, who also created the nearby nativity scene. Špork built the first public theatre in Prague at his palace and introduced the country to Italian opera. He passionately supported and reformed hunting and founded the hunting Order of St. Hubert. In addition to Braun his artistic entourage included painter Petr Brandl and engraver Michael Rentz.

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Ignác Viktorin Raab New window.

9/5/1715 - 2/2/1787

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Jan Hanuš Kolowrat New window.

6/24/1879 - 4/15/1955

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Jan Kašpar New window.

5/20/1883 - 3/2/1927

. Born 20.5.1883 in Pardubice to the family of František Kašpar, owner of the Veselka restaurant. He inherited athletic prowess and technical skills from his father. As a young boy he raced on a specially modified bicycle, but his greatest fascination involved motors. In 1900 at the age of 17 he purchased his first motorcycle. Kašpar’s first employer was the firm of Bassel and Selve in Westphalia. He left the firm in 1909 to join the Mladá Boleslav factory of Laurin and Klement, but quit in the first year after a dispute with the director Klement. He went to Pardubice with his cousin Eugene Čihák where they began their first aviation experiments. Kašpar first tried to build his own airplane, but instead purchased a monoplane from the French flyer Blériot. The first flight above Pardubice took place in 1910, and the first long-distance flight came a year later. On 13.5.1911 Kašpar flew from Pardubice to Prague. In 1912 Kašpar began to operate his own aviation school. He also was involved in the lumber business, but a dishonest partner led to the bankruptcy of the firm; as a way to escape his troubles Kašpar chose to take his own life. He died on 2.3.1927.

Jan Marek Marci New window.

6/13/1595 - 4/10/1667

. Marci was born 13.6.1595 in Lanškroun as the son of the caretaker the Litomyšl domain estates. He became a scientist of European fame at a young age. Involved in the refraction of light before I. Newton, Marci is regarded as the founder of spectroscopy. He used a pendulum to measure time. When Charles University was handed over to the Jesuits on 14.11.1622 (they re-opened four faculties, including law and medicine), Prague doctors were immediately named professors; among the first was Marci. In addition to teaching and conducting his own work, he dedicated himself to astronomy at night. In 1626 Marci was named the Czech royal physicist. Nine years later he organized the defence of the Old Town against the Swedes and led the medical services during the battle on Charles Bridge, for which he was named a royal advisor. In 1654 Marci was bestowed the rank of palsgrave and was elevated to the status of lower Czech nobility. Four years later he became the personal physician of Emperor Ferdinand III, and in 1662 he was appointed as the chancellor of the university. At this time he allegedly turned down an offer to become an Oxford University professor. Marci died in Prague on 10.4.1667.

Jan Perner New window.

9/7/1815 - 9/10/1845

Born into a family of millers. Finished school in Potěhy, until 1830 studied at the Týnská school in Prague. Continued in his studies at the Prague technical college. In March 1842 became a state official with the function of chief engineer of state railways.

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Josef Ressel New window.

6/29/1793 - 10/10/1857

. Ressel was born on 29 June 1793 in Chrudim to a mixed marriage – his father was German and his mother was Czech. He studied high school in Linz and later also studied at artillery school. In 1812 he was accepted to Vienna University. He studied medicine, mechanical engineering, physics, and chemistry. In 1814 at the time of the Napoleon wars he returned home at the wishes of his parents. Ressel became a forester in Trieste in 1820. He had always been attracted to boats, and therefore began to think about ways to give a boat strength and speed. He was inspired by the ship Carolina, a paddle steamboat. Then he got the idea of adding a screw to the steam mechanism and after many trials he was able to put his idea into practice. In Trieste he was laughed at; nevertheless, on 28.11.1826 Ressel applied for an Austrian patent. In September 1828 he signed a contract with the wealthy businessman Fontana to begin voyages between Monfalcone and Istria. A year later the ship was to be launched in the water, but at the last moment Ressel relocated the screw to the rear of the boat; the ship did not set off. The Austrians did not supply the steam device. What’s more, several swindlers tried to steal the invention. The ship with the screw actually did set sail in the end. But a pipe on the steam device cracked and the voyages were ended. Ressel finally received recognition many years later. He died on 10 October 1857 in Ljubljana.

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Josef Wagner New window.

3/2/1901 - 2/10/1957

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Karel Čapek New window.

1/9/1890 - 12/25/1938

Czech prosaic, dramatist, journalist and translator of the first half of the 20th century. For a certain period he was the representative of the Czechoslovakian Penclub. During the time of of the threat of Nazi occupation he was one of the main motors of resistance. He began creating literature before World War I, at first with his brother Josef, who was primarily a painter.

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Karel VI. New window.

10/1/1685 - 10/20/1740

The youngest son of Leopold I and Eleonor Falcko-Neubursky. After the death of his brother Joseph I he became Emperor. He was a bigot catholic. The rituals of the Spanish court suited his needs. He married in 1708 to the German princess Elizabeth Christine of Brunswick – Wolfenbuttel.

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Max Švabinský New window.

9/17/1873 - 2/10/1962

Max Švabinský was born on September 17, 1873 in Kroměříž. He was one of the most important Czech artists of the twentieth century, admired for his remarkable drawing skill and the diversity of his graphic techniques. He was responsible to a great extent for bringing the Czech creative arts to the attention of Europe. Beginning at the end of the 1890's Švabinský and his wife Ela often spent time with the Vejrych family in Kozlov near Česká Třebová. In 1910 Švabinský was appointed as professor of the Prague Academy. In 1917 he expanded his artistic expressions to include woodcuts in Elysian Sonatas. He is also the author of a mosaic for the National Monument on the Žižkov hilltop, made drawings for three stained-glass windows at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, and created miniature graphic works for postage stamps. Max Švabinský worked nearly up to his death on February 10, 1962 in Prague.

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Olbram Zoubek New window.

4/21/1926

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Oskar Schindler New window.

4/28/1908 - 10/9/1974

German entrepreneur, Svitava native, saviour of 1200 Jews from concentration camps. He became the subject of numerous controversies some of which glorify him, others depreciate his actions or even deny them. His story was the subject for Thomas Keneally's novel Schindler's Ark according to which the the film Schindler's List (1993) was filmed by Steven Spielberg.

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Peter Jilemnický New window.

3/18/1901 - 5/19/1949

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Přemysl Otakar II New window.

1233 - 1278

Přemysl Otakar II, known as the iron and golden king, born around 1233 as the second son of King Václav I and Kunhuta Štaufská, was the fifth Czech king from the Přemyslid family (crowned in 1261) and a powerful Central European sovereign who temporarily connected Austrian lands to Bohemia after the Babenburg family died out. However, these lands were not held long against the advancing Hapsburgs, and Přemysl Otakar II was killed during his retreat from the Battle of the Marchfeld, after having been defeated by Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph I.

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Prokop Diviš New window.

8/21/1968 - 12/21/1765

Prokop Diviš was a distinguished Czech natural scientist and builder. In 1720 he entered the Premonstratensian monastery in Louka near Znojmo and was ordained a priest. Beginning in 1736 he served as pastor in Přimětice and in his free time conducted experiments, mainly with static electricity. The lightning rod is the most prominent of his technical inventions.

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Tereza Nováková New window.

7/31/1853 - 11/13/1912

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Tobiáš Jan Becker New window.

1649 - 1710

Tobiáš Jan Becker was born in Králíky in 1649 to poor but devout parents. Following his studies he was ordained as a priest and served at various locations in Church administration. Around 1695 he became a cathedral canon at St. Vitus in Prague. After securing permission from the bishop in 1696 he joined other ardent friends to begin construction of the Church of the Virgin Mary and cloister on Mt. Lysá. Within four years the church was consecrated, and since then the site has been known as the Mountain of the Mother of God. On 3 April 1701 Becker was appointed bishop in Hradec Králové by Pope Clement XI, and in the same year he laid the corner stone for a convent adjacent to the pilgrimage church. Tobiáš Jan Becker died in 1710, the same year the convent was completed.

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Václav Jan Tomášek New window.

4/17/1774 - 4/3/1850

Born in Skuteč, the most distinguished Czech musical composer of the pre-Smetana period, pedagogue, and representative of the Prague musical life. Until 1824 he served as a music teacher for aristocratic families and later founded his own music institute in Prague. His students included, among others, J.V. Voříšek and E. Hanslick. He wrote piano compositions, particularly eclogues, dithyrambs and rhapsodies, songs (with texts from J. W. Goethe, F. Schiller, and the Royal Court Manuscript), as well as church music. He composed the opera Serafina, and wrote an autobiography. He died in Prague in 1850.

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Václav Klofáč New window.

1/21/1868 - 7/10/1942

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Veverka cousins New window.

. Cousins František and Václav lived in the Rybitví settlement not far from Pardubice. František was born 3.3.1799 and worked as a farmer, albeit one with great technical skills. He constructed, for example, a blower, understood mill machines, and allegedly repaired clocks for the whole village. He wanted to build a new ploughing tool, imagining it as a plane, the shape and angle of whose hook could be adjusted. However, it was František’s cousin Václav, born 13.4.1790, who gave the swing plough its final form; but in the end the device didn’t meet the approval of their fellow villagers. František fell into debt, was forced to sell the family farm, and moved to Břehy u Přelouče, where he died on 12.2.1849. Václav moved to Bukovina u Dřítče, where he died a mere eleven days after his cousin.

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Vítězslav Novák New window.

12/5/1870 - 7/18/1949

Born in Kamenice nad Lipou, Czech composer and pedagogue, prominent representative of Czech modern music at the turn of the twentieth century, author of four operas, pantomimes, cantatas, choral works, songs, as well as piano, chamber, and orchestral pieces. Between 1909 and 1940 worked as professor of the master school at the Prague Conservatory, where he also served as chancellor for a time in the 1920’s. As a professor he taught several generations of Czech and foreign composers (E. Axman, V.Dobiáš, A.Hába, I.Hurník, A.Moyzes, E.Suchoň). His memoirs were entitled About Myself and Others. In November 1945 he was bestowed the title of National Artist. He died in Skuteč in 1949.

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