František Ženíšek (25 May 1849 – 15 November 1916) was a Czech painter. He was part of the "Generace Národního divadla [cs]" (Generation of the National Theater), a large group of artists with nationalistic sympathies.
He was born in Prague into a family of merchants and displayed an affinity for art at an early age. Reluctantly his father agreed to let him pursue his interests and allowed him to take lessons from Karel Javůrek while he was still in school.[1] From 1863 to 1865, he was at the Academy of Fine Arts, studying with Eduard von Engerth. After a brief stay in Vienna, assisting Engerth with work at the State Opera, he was back at the Academy in Prague, working with Jan Swerts and the history painter Josef Matyáš Trenkwald.[2]
In 1875, he received his first major commission; painting murals at the city hall in Courtrai, Belgium.[3] Then, in 1878, while making a study trip to Paris, he gained an important friend and supporter in Josef Šebestián Daubek, a well-known patron of the arts, who engaged him to decorate his home in Liteň. Ženíšek later accompanied Daubek on his honeymoon to Holland, and painted a portrait of the new couple.[4]
Soon after returning from Paris, he and Mikoláš Aleš won a competition to decorate the foyer of the National Theater with historic and allegorical designs. Ženíšek went on to decorate the auditorium ceiling and design a curtain, although the curtain was destroyed by a fire in 1881.[1] He also painted windows at the church in Karlín and lunettes at the National Museum as well as over 80 portraits.[3]
From 1885 to 1896, he was a professor at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design, where his assistant was Jakub Schikaneder. Then, from 1896 to 1915, he was a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, where his students included Jaroslav Špillar and Jan Preisler.[2] In 1898, he was one of the founders of "Jednota umělců výtvarných [cs]" (Union of Fine Artists), in an effort to strengthen the Czech nationalist viewpoint in the arts. Ženíšek died on 15 November 1916, in Prague.
His son, František (1877–1935) was also a painter of some note.[5]
Tony Ozuna, "Visual historian of a nation" from the Prague Post, 2006
May 20, 2023
františek, Ženíšek, 1849, november, 1916, czech, painter, part, generace, národního, divadla, generation, national, theater, large, group, artists, with, nationalistic, sympathies, portrait, vilímek, contents, biography, selected, paintings, references, furthe. Frantisek Zenisek 25 May 1849 15 November 1916 was a Czech painter He was part of the Generace Narodniho divadla cs Generation of the National Theater a large group of artists with nationalistic sympathies Frantisek Zenisek Portrait by Jan Vilimek Contents 1 Biography 2 Selected paintings 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography EditHe was born in Prague into a family of merchants and displayed an affinity for art at an early age Reluctantly his father agreed to let him pursue his interests and allowed him to take lessons from Karel Javurek while he was still in school 1 From 1863 to 1865 he was at the Academy of Fine Arts studying with Eduard von Engerth After a brief stay in Vienna assisting Engerth with work at the State Opera he was back at the Academy in Prague working with Jan Swerts and the history painter Josef Matyas Trenkwald 2 In 1875 he received his first major commission painting murals at the city hall in Courtrai Belgium 3 Then in 1878 while making a study trip to Paris he gained an important friend and supporter in Josef Sebestian Daubek a well known patron of the arts who engaged him to decorate his home in Liten Zenisek later accompanied Daubek on his honeymoon to Holland and painted a portrait of the new couple 4 Soon after returning from Paris he and Mikolas Ales won a competition to decorate the foyer of the National Theater with historic and allegorical designs Zenisek went on to decorate the auditorium ceiling and design a curtain although the curtain was destroyed by a fire in 1881 1 He also painted windows at the church in Karlin and lunettes at the National Museum as well as over 80 portraits 3 From 1885 to 1896 he was a professor at the Academy of Arts Architecture and Design where his assistant was Jakub Schikaneder Then from 1896 to 1915 he was a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts where his students included Jaroslav Spillar and Jan Preisler 2 In 1898 he was one of the founders of Jednota umelcu vytvarnych cs Union of Fine Artists in an effort to strengthen the Czech nationalist viewpoint in the arts Zenisek died on 15 November 1916 in Prague His son Frantisek 1877 1935 was also a painter of some note 5 Selected paintings Edit Portrait of Rene Descartes after Frans Hals Study for the curtain in the National Theatre Oldrich and Bozena Portrait of Josef DaubekReferences Edit a b Brief biography Filmova Databaze a b Informacni system abART Zenisek Frantisek AbArt a b Brief biography ArtMuseum cz Zamek Liten Daubek and the artists he supported Frantisek Zenisek the younger ArtNet Further reading Edit Wikisource has original works by or about Frantisek Zenisek Frantisek Xaver Jirik Frantisek Zenisek Jednota Umelcu Vytvarnych 1906 Prokop Toman Profesor Frantisek Zenisek exhibition catalog Jednota umelcu vytvarnych 1938 Nadezda Blazickova Horova Frantisek Zenisek 1849 1916 Narodni galerie 2005 ISBN 80 7035 315 5 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Frantisek Zenisek Oldrich and Bozena a video from Ceska televize Tony Ozuna Visual historian of a nation from the Prague Post 2006 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frantisek Zenisek amp oldid 1133058055, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
