Mikolas Ales (1852-1913) - a Czech painter, master in the art of penand ink, born in Mirotice (Southern Bohemia) - is one of the most popularCzech painters. His paintings captured the spirit of Czech life duringthe turn of 19th century.
Ales was Born in Mirotice near Pisek on November 18th, 1852.He attended his "main" school and later local gymnasium until the deathof his mother in 1869.
Then he left for Prague, to study painting in the art academy. Rather than fromhis teachers, he learned from the work of painter Josef Manes. Ales designed a cycle ofpaintings called "Homeland", which decorate the National Theater in Prague.During his summer vacation, Ales used to return to his hometown and in hispaintings captured the personality of the country life.
He married in 1879 and in the same year left to Italy. In the following years,he worked in his small apartment in Prague, because he did not own anyatelier. He decorated fronts of houses with paintings scratched to the stuccoin Prague, Pilsen and other towns in Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia.In the dawn of his life, Ales had about 5,000 published pictures. He paintedfor magazines, illustrated books, text books and poems. He paintedshooting targets, diplomas, invitations, playing cards, nativities, wallcalendars, postal cards, and headings.
Mikolas died in Prague, in Vinohrady in July 10, 1913 at the age of 60 years.He is buried in Vysehrad cemetery.
Ales, with his personality, was a typical Czech. That is reflected inall his work, for which he is still so close to the people of the Czechland.
|  |  |
