Karel Škréta

Karel Škréta (full name Karel Škréta Šotonovský ze Závořic; * 1610 in Prague, † July 30, 1674 ibid ) was Czech Baroque masters. He was among the most significant Czech painters of the 17th century.

Skreta was born in Prague as a descendant of a Protestant noble family Šotnovský ze Závořic, originally operated mills in South Bohemia, but later settled in Kutna Hora, Prague. Trained at the Týn School ( Týnská škola ), he learned the art of painting probably at Rudolfiner masters in the royal court. His teachers should also Dutch engraver Egidius Sadeler the Elder belong. After the Battle of White Mountain, he fled with his mother in 1628 to Freiberg in Saxony, then to Venice, Bologna, Florence and Rome. Here he came into contact repeatedly with painting and learned works by Italian and Dutch masters know. A great influence exerted on him especially the painter Paolo Veronese, Jacopo Tintoretto and Titian. During this time he was already famous as a portrait painter. 1635 he held himself back in Freiberg, moved in 1638 finally to Prague, changed his faith and received back his property confiscated. In the old town, he opened his studio in 1645, after spending a year earlier joined the painters' guild, whose elder he was from 1651 to 1661. By the time he was one of the leading personalities of the Prague art and public life. Emerged in the period after his return his monumental images with religious and mythological scenes. These included mainly the cycle in the church of St. Wenceslas at Prague Zderaz, the Assumption in the church of St. Thomas on the Lesser Town. In addition, his portraits, of which especially the group picture of the gemstone cutter Miseroni and his family became famous. But " The man with long, flowing hair " or with portraits of Ignatius Vitanovský z Vlčkovic or Maximiliana Maria von Sternberg ( Marie Maxmilián ze Šternberka ) get him faithful illustrations at that time living personalities.

He was buried in the church of St. Gallus ( tschech.: Havel ) in Prague's Old Town.