Ladislav Šaloun
Encyclopedia
Ladislav Jan Šaloun was an important Czech sculptor of the Art Nouveau
period.
Šaloun studied in the studios of Tomáš Seidan and Bohuslav Schnirch
, was involved as an artist in the Mánes Union of Fine Arts
, This independent education allowed him to avoid the influence of Josef Václav Myslbek
, looking instead to the work of Auguste Rodin
. He was later admitted to the prestigious Czech Academy of Sciences in 1912 but never took training there. In 1927 he was appointed the civic artistic advisor for the city of Prague in 1927, and in 1946 was honored by being named a National Artist.
Šaloun worked on his Jan Hus Memorial
on the Old Town Square in Prague
for 15 years, from 1901 through 1915, and produced similar Hus monuments for the towns of Hořice
(1911-1913) and Libáň
(1925). His architectural sculpture for the Municipal House
, finished in 1911, is one example of his collaborations with Czech architect Osvald Polívka
. Šaloun's own 1909 house in Vinohrady
is one of the outstanding proto-modernist buildings of its Prague district.
According to Cannon-Brooks, "From the beginning he was extremely prolific and his exceptional facility... led on occasion to a certain superficiality, for which he has been over-criticized."
Šaloun is buried in the Vyšehrad cemetery
, not far from his bust of Antonín Dvořák
marking the composer's grave.
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
period.
Šaloun studied in the studios of Tomáš Seidan and Bohuslav Schnirch
Bohuslav Schnirch
Bohuslav Schnirch , was a Czech sculptor perhaps best known for his architectural sculpture. Schnirch sculpted 10 of the 20 roof statues, and the interior sculpted pediment, on Josef Zítek's 1881 National Theatre ....
, was involved as an artist in the Mánes Union of Fine Arts
Mánes Union of Fine Arts
The Manes Association of Fine Artists was an artists' association and exhibition society founded in 1887 in Prague and named after the painter Josef Mánes....
, This independent education allowed him to avoid the influence of Josef Václav Myslbek
Josef Václav Myslbek
Josef Václav Myslbek was a Czech sculptor credited for founding of the modern Czech sculpting style.Josef grew up poor in a suburb of Prague. His family pushed him to become a shoemaker but he shirked the duty by getting a job with a succession of Czech sculptors...
, looking instead to the work of Auguste Rodin
Auguste Rodin
François-Auguste-René Rodin , known as Auguste Rodin , was a French sculptor. Although Rodin is generally considered the progenitor of modern sculpture, he did not set out to rebel against the past...
. He was later admitted to the prestigious Czech Academy of Sciences in 1912 but never took training there. In 1927 he was appointed the civic artistic advisor for the city of Prague in 1927, and in 1946 was honored by being named a National Artist.
Šaloun worked on his Jan Hus Memorial
Jan Hus Memorial
The Jan Hus Memorial stands at one end of Old Town Square, Prague in the Czech Republic. The huge monument depicts victorious Hussite warriors and Protestants who were forced into exile 200 years after Hus and a young mother which symbolizes national rebirth. It was unveiled in 1915 to...
on the Old Town Square in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
for 15 years, from 1901 through 1915, and produced similar Hus monuments for the towns of Hořice
Horice
Hořice is a name of several locations in the Czech Republic:* Hořice, a town in the Hradec Králové Region * Hořice, a village in the Vysočina Region...
(1911-1913) and Libáň
Liban
Liban may refer to:*Lebanon – many Lebanese institutions use the French word Liban, a legacy of the country's colonization by France*Lí Ban, a Celtic goddess*Li Ban, a Chinese prince*Liban in Irish folklore, a mermaid...
(1925). His architectural sculpture for the Municipal House
Municipal House
The Municipal House is a major civic landmark and concert hall in Prague, and an important building in architectural and political history in the Czech Republic. It stands on the Náměstí Republiky....
, finished in 1911, is one example of his collaborations with Czech architect Osvald Polívka
Osvald Polívka
Osvald Polívka , Austrian-born Czech architect associated with the Secession / Art Nouveau period in Prague. Polívka designed many of Prague's significant landmarks of the era, plus other work in Brno and elsewhere....
. Šaloun's own 1909 house in Vinohrady
Vinohrady
Vinohrady is a cadastral district in Prague. It is so named because the area was once covered in vineyards dating from the 14th century...
is one of the outstanding proto-modernist buildings of its Prague district.
According to Cannon-Brooks, "From the beginning he was extremely prolific and his exceptional facility... led on occasion to a certain superficiality, for which he has been over-criticized."
Šaloun is buried in the Vyšehrad cemetery
Vyšehrad cemetery
Established in 1869 on the grounds of Vyšehrad Castle in Prague, Czech Republic, the Vyšehrad cemetery is the final resting place of many composers, artists, sculptors, writers, and those from the world of science and politics...
, not far from his bust of Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Dvorák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
marking the composer's grave.
Architectural Sculpture
- City of Prague Museum, with architects Antonin Wiehl and Antonin Balšánek, 1895-1898
- Hlahol Building, Prague, with architect Josef FantaJosef FantaJosef Fanta was a Czech architect, furniture designer, sculptor and painter. One of the most prominent representatives of Czech Art Nouveau architecture he created many notable public architectural works including Prague Railway Station and the Peace Monument "Austria" in Prague in 1910–1912...
, 1903-1906 - Hotel Europa, Wenceslas SquareWenceslas SquareWenceslas Square is one of the main city squares and the centre of the business and cultural communities in the New Town of Prague, Czech Republic. Many historical events occurred there, and it is a traditional setting for demonstrations, celebrations, and other public gatherings...
, Prague, with architect Alois DryákAlois DryákAlois Dryák was Czech architect and professor of ornamental design.Dryák is most famous for the design of the ornamental detail on Art Nouveau masterpieces such as...
for the 1905 redesign - New Town Hall, Prague, with Osvald Polívka, 1908-1911
- Municipal HouseMunicipal HouseThe Municipal House is a major civic landmark and concert hall in Prague, and an important building in architectural and political history in the Czech Republic. It stands on the Náměstí Republiky....
, Prague, with Polívka, circa 1912 - allegorical Art Nouveau statues flanking the entrance to the Gallery of Modern Art in Hradec KrálovéHradec KrálovéHradec Králové is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Hradec Králové Region of Bohemia. The city's economy is based on food-processing technology, photochemical, and electronics manufacture. Traditional industries include musical instrument manufacturing – the best known being PETROF pianos...
, representing Trade and Harvest (the building was originally a credit institution), with Polívka - many other apartment houses and other buildings
Sources
- short biography
- Czech Sculpture, 1800-1938, by Peter Cannon-Brookes