NGP – Hidden secrets

Middle-age paintings hidden secrets (1340–1550)

Let us invite you to an interactive exploration of medieval paintings

displayed in the collection of Medieval Art in Bohemia and Central Europe 1200–1550 that is located at Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia. A number of pictures and comments will provide you with a lot of interesting information regarding the iconography and techniques of some key medieval panel paintings originating at the territory of the Czech lands. You will also learn about their authors and the process of their creation. IRR pictures will enable you to look into hidden layers of the artefacts that are not visible for the naked eye namely the underdrawing. The underdrawing represents a very important step in the process of creation of a given art work and tells us a lot about the interventions of all those who participated being members of medieval master's workshop. Everyone can examine some most interesting samples of the material that has been recently analysed by the researchers of the National Gallery. Moreover, the application will also show you (and comment upon) a large number of details that are visible but may escape the attention of viewers or are not so easy to understand nowadays.

Our selection encompasses earliest examples of panel painting associated with famous workshops of the Master of the Vyšší Brod Altarpiece, Master Theodoricus and Master of the Třeboň Altarpiece, as well as late Gothic and early Renaissance panel paintings produced in the workshops of the Master of the St George Altarpiece, Master of the Litoměřice Altarpiece and Monogrammist IW. This collection, therefore, represents the most renowned masterpieces created throughout two centuries in the Lands of the Bohemian Crown (1330–1550) while presenting details that often escape our attention or are not visible at all.

Let us admire together the beauty of medieval panel painting. In the end, you can check your comprehension by trying to solve some simple puzzles prepared for you.