Prague. The Crown of Bohemia, 1347-1437

Prague, The Crown of Bohemia, 1347-1437, the companion to a landmark exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, celebrates the remarkable flowering of art that took place in Prague as the city emerged as a European cultural capital. In essays and entries on works of art drawn from Czech, other European, and American collections, an esteemed group of scholars elucidate this compelling chapter in European history. Among the nearly 200 objects are paintings, including panels by Master Theodoric from the Holy Cross Chapel at Karlstejn Castle; goldsmiths' work from Saint Vitus's Cathedral that has not been exhibited for decades; sculpture; drawings, including an artist's model book with its original carrying case; stained glass; embroideries from ecclesiastical vestments; and illuminated manuscripts from the personal collection of Wenceslas IV. These precious objects bear witness to the achievements of the hundreds of artists trained and active in Prague and its rulers' dominions during this spectacular century.