Path in the Fields

Antonín Slavíček was a famous artist of modern Czech landscape painting and, alongside František Kaván and Otakar Lebeda, a leading personality of the generation of Julius Mařák’s students at the Prague Academy. The presented high-quality painting belongs to his mature creative phase when he re-evaluated his artistic views and moved forward with every new artwork. In this painting, we can observe his transition from the generous formats of the Prague panoramas to the more intimate final period, characterised by a more lyrical atmosphere and a desire to capture nature and its elements. Based on the subject matter, the rendering, the comparison with the artist’s other works and the available data in the literature, the authenticity of this painting can be confirmed, and the location it depicts determined. In 1909, several important events happened in the artist’s life: he devoted himself to the theme of St. Vitus Cathedral, painted in Kladno ironworks and travelled with his wife to Dubrovnik, where he broke his arm falling from a cliff. He also went on vacation with his family to Německá Rybná, where his acquaintance Jan Selichar, the former parish priest from Kameničky, was transferred. On 10 August of the same year, the painter had a stroke in the Zdobnice River. The presented painting was thus executed in this clearly defined period, which became Slavíček’s swan song. Later, he still tried to paint – his still lifes with fruit are well-known – but he no longer had the strength for paintings such as Path in the Fields. Therefore, this painting is of exceptional importance as one of the last of Slavíček’s works.

The painting was published in literature (M. Hovorková / L. Karlíková / J. Kotalík: Antonín Slavíček, 1870–1910, Inventory of Work, Prague 1965, cat. No. 323, fig. p. 227; J. Tomeš: Antonín Slavíček, Prague 1966, cat. No. 443, reproduced). At the same time, it was presented at several solo exhibitions and published in their catalogues (M. Hovorková / L. Karlíková: Antonín Slavíček 1870–1910, Prague Castle Riding School, September – November 1961, Prague 1961, cat. No. 292, p. 152, fig. p. 153; J. Kotalík: Antonín Slavíček 1870–1910, Life’s Work, Brno House of Arts, January – March 1962, cat. No. 160; J. Kotalík / L’. Peterajová:  Antonín Slavíček 1870–1910, Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava, April – May 1962, cat. No. 159; S. Šich / M. Hovorková / J. Kotalík: Antonín Slavíček, Life’s Work 1890–1910, Exhibition catalogue, June – July 1962, Ostrava, cat. No. 126). The work comes from an important Czechoslovak collection. Assessed during consultations by prof. R. Prahl, CSc., and prof. J. Zemina. The expertise of PhDr. K. Srp is attached.