Zprávy památkové péče 2013, 73(5):420-426

Drawings by German Nazarenes in the Sychrov Castle collections. From the vast series of drawings by German authors of the 19th century

Petr Janák

The Sychrov Castle contains a valuable and extensive collection of drawings by German artists mostly from the 19th century, confiscated and brought here after World War II. The entire set was brought to Bohemia under unknown circumstances from Germany during the war, but no sooner than 1942. For this essay, a group of drawing by German representatives of Nazarenism was selected from among a large number of authors; this was a romantic artistic movement characterized by the search for the spiritual content of creation in the inspiration of Christian art of the late Gothic and early Renaissance of Italy. This stream is represented at Sychrov by the very high quality artwork of Friedrich Overbeck, Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, and Carl Gottlieb Peschel. Overbeck, one of the initiators of Nazarenism, is presented here by a rigorous linear study copy based on Fra Angelico and by one refined but simple and impressive drawing of a saint. From the multiform draftsmanship of Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Sychrov holds several figural studies linking direct realism with Gothic-Renaissance old master stylization and one example from the rich range of the authors' arcadic drawings of the Italian landscape. Peschel, a late representative of Nazarenism, is represented at Sychrov by two classical Greek mythological motifs and one biblical theme. He is attributed with the monumental scene from the Germanic epic. Peschel's drawings show his supremely Renaissance inspiration. They combine monumental pathos with a sense of narrative.

Keywords: Sychrov Castle; furniture funds; Nazarenism; drawing; 19th century; Germany

Published: December 1, 2013  Show citation