Description

Anton PROKOPH, Artist; C. TSCHUPPIK – J. RICHTER, Engravers; Karl Wilhelm MEDAU (17191-1866), Lithographer.

[View of the Bohemian folk festival, which the Bohemian noble estates organized during the coronation celebrations of His Majesty Emperor and King Ferdinand I and His Majesty Empress and Queen Maria Anna near the Prague Invalids’ House. (September 14, 1836)]

Litoměřice: Karl Wilhelm Medau 1836.

On September 7, 1836, Ferdinand I of Austria, along with his wife Maria Anna of Savoy, was crowned King of Bohemia. He was the last of the Habsburg family to receive this honor. To celebrate this significant event, a large folk festival was held in the field behind Invalidovna, which translates to “hôtel des invalides.” This building is located in the Karlín district of Prague.

Each of the 16 Bohemian districts (Kreis, Kraj) built its own pavilion. On September 14, one week after the coronation, 24 couples, all dressed in costumes representing their regions, participated in grand wedding ceremonies held in the pavilions. This was followed by lengthy processions in coaches, showcasing the vibrant traditions of each region. Each couple received a generous gift of 200 guilders and a mug featuring the Bohemian Eagle. Beer was offered for free to all visitors.

The current lithograph, which is based on a presumably lost drawing or painting by Anton Prokoph, captures a unique event with detailed depictions of Bohemian regional uniforms that are significant to the culture of the area. In 1903, Edward Langer conducted thorough research and provided a description of the print and the festival in his article Zwei Braunauer Brautpaare bei der Königskrönung Ferdinand I. und seiner Gemahlin Maria Anna im Jahre 1836 zu Prag (Deutsche Volkskunde aus dem östlichen Böhmen, Vol 3, 1903, pp. 85-97), the text which is the basis for the present catalogue entry.

The scene takes place on the meadow between the Vltava River, with a ship on the left side, and Žižkov Hill in the background. The right side features a brewery, while two vineyards are located in the middle. Various small factories and private houses are situated towards the left side.

The central feature of the event is an elaborate stage designed to host the nobility, surrounded by pavilions representing various districts, with some district names visible in the print. In the lower left-hand corner, the royal couple can be seen departing in their coach, accompanied by their entourage. The image is filled with details that illustrate different stages of the weddings. A complete procession from one district moves through the middle of the image towards the right margin. The last cart in the procession is occupied by providers of food and beverages.

Artists

Not much is known about the painter Anton Prokoph, who is referred to as an academic painter of portraits and historical scenes in contemporary publications.

The view was lithographed in Litoměřice by Karel Vilém Medau (also known as Karl Wilhelm Medau, 1791-1866). He was schooled in Szczecin and was one of the pioneers of lithography and xylography in Bohemia. In 1837, Medau opened a branch in Prague, which operated under his name until 1855, when it was taken over by Karel Ferdinand Bellmann (1820–1893).

The Note on Rarity

We were unable to find any institutional examples of the print.

However, we did come across one example listed in a Viennese auction catalogue from 1878, part of the collection of Josef L. Posanyi. Additionally, there is a mention of a lithograph in a 1903 article by Langer, which could potentially refer to the same example.
According to an article by Edward Langer, the print was accompanied by a four-page text titled “Beschreibung des böhmischen Volksfestes…” which was published without an imprint. We were unable to find any examples of the text, either on the market or in institutions. However, Langer’s article provides a complete transcription of the broadside.

References: Edward Langer, Zwei Braunauer Brautpaare bei der Königskrönung Ferdinand I. und seiner Gemahlin Maria Anna im Jahre 1836 zu Prag. Deutsche Volkskunde aus dem östlichen Böhmen, Vol 3, 1903, pp. 85-97, 177-190; Wilhelm Oehl, Deutsche Hochzeitsbräuche in Ostböhmen, 1922, p. VII, (quoting Langer); Auctions-Katalog über die kostbare Sammlung “Austriaca” des Josef L. Posanyi in Wien und über dessen … Sammlung von Kupferstichen, Radirungen, Holzschnitten, Handzeichnungen alter Meister und Aquarellen moderner Meister, 1878, p. 33, No. 576.