2. Škréta, Karel

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List of works by author Škréta, Karel

Škréta, Karel

Karel Škréta, full name Karel Škréta Šotnovský of Závořice (1610 Prague - 30 July 1674 Prague), was probably the most important Czech Baroque painter of the 17th century. He was famous as a portraitist and figure painter of large, mostly sacred oil paintings on canvas.
He received a thorough humanist education and, in addition to Latin and German, he also knew Italian. He probably learned painting from one of the masters at the royal court, perhaps Aegidius Sadeler.
After the Battle of White Mountain, the family fled into exile.
In 1628, Karel Škréta stayed in Stuttgart. In 1630 he came to Venice, where he stayed for several years. He also visited Bologna and Florence and in 1634 came to Rome. The experience and knowledge gained during his stay in Italy were reflected in his painting style.
In 1638 he returned to Bohemia. He settled in Prague, made possible by his conversion to the Catholic Church and his art of sacred painting. In exile, the Bohemian nobility assimilated and generally became poorer. In addition to winning many interesting commissions, Karel Škrét soon managed to reclaim his forfeited family fortune.
He distinguished himself as a portrait painter, draughtsman and author of graphic paper designs. His paintings were often translated into engravings by his contemporaries Jan Kašpar Dooms, Gerard de Groos, Václav Hollar or Melchior Küssel, but also by followers such as Jan Jiří Balzer. He often portrayed artists, intellectuals and members of noble families.

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Showing 1 - 9 of 9 items