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6: White Mountain and Comenius | The legendary events connected with the Battle of White Mountain and the life and works of Jan Amos Komenský (Comenius) are one of the best known chapters in Czech history. Jan Amos Komenský, a world famous founder of modern pedagogy, was forced, for religious reasons, to leave his country forever. His fate became a prototype for the fate of modern emigration. The 19th century increased the popularity of this theme within the national renewal and the romantic concept of the fight for national identity. Therefore the works of famous 19th century Czech artists are presented here. This is a period when terms like "exile" and "emigrée" became a frequent part of the vocabulary of historians, writers and artists.
   
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Jaroslav Čermák
Anti-Reformation (After the Battle of White Mountain, Spreading the Catholic Faith in Bohemia), 1854
oil, canvas
National Gallery in Prague 		Indonesia
Displaced persons, in the church of Kupang
September 1999
UNHCR F. Pagetti
   
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Petr Maixner
Farmers after the Battle of White Mountain - study, before 1860
oil, past-board on canvas
National Gallery in Prague		 Albania
Refugees from Kosovo
 June 1998
UNHCR R. Lemoyne
   
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Felix Jenewein
Exiles, 1868
gouache, paper
Gallery of the City of Prague		 Zair
Rwandan refugees
May 1997
UNHCR A. Gesulfo
   
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Karel Svoboda
Emigrants, circa 1868
pencil drawing, paper
National Gallery in Prague		 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Kosovo
Displaced persons returning to their village
October 1998
UNHCR R. Lemoyne
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Mikoláš Aleš
Refugees in the Forest (Historical scene), 1877-78
oil, cardboard on paste-board
National Gallery in Prague		 Zair
Rwandese refugees, Kasese camp
April 1997
UNHCR R. Chalasani
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Felix Jenewein
J. A. Komenský Says Farewell
to His Homeland, 1885
pen drawing, white paint, paper
Felix Jenewein Gallery of Kutná Hora		 Pakistan
Kirghiz refugees
1982
UNHCR K. Rochanakorn
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František Bílek
Komenský (Saying Farewell to the Homeland), 1918
ink drawing, paper
National Gallery in Prague		 Iran
Iraqi refugee, West Azerbaijan
April 1991
UNHCR J. Crisp
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Václav Brožík
Jan Amos Komenský Says Farewell to Karel the Elder of Zerotín, 1873
oil, canvas
Gallery of Art in Ostrava

 Russian Federation
Displaced persons, region of North Ossetia
December 1996
UNHCR T. Bolstad
Read also:  For Homeland and Faith by Zdeněk Hojda
 © UNHCR 2003