Mucha window, Prague

The skyline of Prague's left bank is dominated by the spires of St Vitus Cathedral, a huge gothic

pile begun in 1344. This stained glass window on the north wall of the nave, although only one of

many throughout the cathedral, for me dominates the interior of the cathedral and is one of the

building's best features (the stunning St Wenceslas Chapel and the exterior mosaics are others).

It was painted in 1931 by the Czech artist Alphons Mucha (1860-1939), regarded as a stalwart of

the Art Nouveau movement. This illustration covers only six of the 30+ panels in the entire

window. [Although this photograph of it is my copyright, the window itself may have reproduction

rights and limitations that I don't know about, so if that is the case please let me know.]

Failing that, it must be the most colourful image in my entire portfolio (and it's not been enhanced

in any way). The window is huge, and one of the most striking things about the Cathedral. It's

also just occurred to me that St Vitus' itself must be one of the most easterly of all

European-style cathedrals, giving way to Eastern Orthodox churches as you travel east from

here. I'm not an expert, so that could be rubbish. All I know is that of all the stained-glass

windows I've seen in such places, inc. the Rose window at Chartres, this one beats them all for

scale + colour + impact. It alone is worth the admission price.

The skyline of Prague's left bank is dominated by the spires of St Vitus Cathedral, a huge gothic pile

begun in 1344. This stained glass window on the north wall of the nave, although only one of many

throughout the cathedral, for me dominates the interior of the cathedral and is one of the building's best

features (the stunning St Wenceslas Chapel and the exterior mosaics are others). It was painted in

1931 by the Czech artist Alphons Mucha (1860-1939), regarded as a stalwart of the Art Nouveau

movement. This illustration covers only six of the 30+ panels in the entire window. [Although this

photograph of it is my copyright, the window itself may have reproduction rights and limitations that I

don't know about, so if that is the case please let me know.]

Failing that, it must be the most colourful image in my entire portfolio (and it's not been enhanced in

any way). The window is huge, and one of the most striking things about the Cathedral. It's also just

occurred to me that St Vitus' itself must be one of the most easterly of all European-style cathedrals,

giving way to Eastern Orthodox churches as you travel east from here. I'm not an expert, so that

could be rubbish. All I know is that of all the stained-glass windows I've seen in such places, inc. the

Rose window at Chartres, this one beats them all for scale + colour + impact. It alone is worth the

admission price.

Mucha window, Prague Castle