Theodoric of Prague
Theodoric of Prague (Latin Magister Theodoricus de Praga ; Czech Mistr Theodorik ; also Dětřich , Jetřich , Dittrich ; mentioned from 1359 to 1368) was court painter to Emperor Charles IV.
Life
Theodoric is mentioned for the first time in the book of the Prague Painters' Brotherhood from 1348. There you will find the entry “Primus magister Theodoricus unum grossum”, ie first master of this brotherhood. Another historical source are the Hradschiner city books. As of 1359, Theodoric was already mentioned here as "Malerius imperatoris". At that time he was already court painter in the service of the Bohemian King and Emperor Charles IV. In addition, the house of the imperial painter Theodoric is recorded in the Hradschin city registers. Accordingly, Theodoric lived in Prague, where he owned a house on the Hradschin. As of October 3, 1359 the entry in the Hradschiner city registers is:
“… Anno domini MoCCCo L IX the tertia mensis octobris… in domo Judicis in Hradczano. Nos Heymanus Judex recognoscimus tenorem presencium quod… discretus vir dominus Theo-doricus dictus Zelo domum suam quam habet et habuit in Hradczano vendidit cum curia et… "
Whether the mentioned Theodoricus, called Zelo, is identical with the master Theodoric is not proven, but possible. The surname Zelo is of Bohemian origin. If Theodoricus, called Zelo, and Master Theoderich mean the same person, then the Bohemian origin would be undeniable. However, there is no objective historical evidence for this thesis. The source for the knowledge about the work of Theodoric is a document of Charles IV from April 28, 1367. In it Theoderic is referred to as "pictor noster et familiaris". It follows that he was the imperial painter and courtier. Thank you for the artistic and solemn painting of the royal Holy Cross Chapel at Karlstein Castle . The letter of foundation and dedication proves that the mentioned chapel was consecrated on February 9, 1365 by the second Archbishop of Prague, Johann Očko von Wlašim . Theodoric's artistic work in the chapel was probably already completed by this time.
Many pioneering masters in European painting of the High Middle Ages north of the Alps often remain anonymous in art historiography. However, the sources and reliable documents mentioned reveal a lot about Master Theodoric; there is no doubt that he was responsible for the artistic design of the Holy Cross Chapel at Karlstein Castle. His work is recorded here in its entire scope and its temporal context, while no traces of his work have been preserved before or after.
Works
He probably painted his first works in the royal palace in Prague. One of his outstanding works is the furnishing of the Chapel of the Holy Cross at Karlstein Castle with a total of 129 Gothic paintings. These pictures are among the best preserved Gothic works in the world today. The picture of the Prague Archbishop Johann Očko von Wlašim, which is now in the National Gallery in Prague and on which Charles IV is shown kneeling, is also attributed to his surroundings. The perfection and fine brushstrokes were unique for that time. In particular, the faces of the people depicted deviated from the Gothic scheme and were depicted vividly.
literature
- Vlasta Dvořáková: Mistr Theodorik , Prague 1967
- Jiří Fajt: Magister Theodoricus ISBN 80-7035-160-8
- Jiří Fajt, Jan Royt: Magister Theodoricus - court painter to Emperor Charles IV. The artistic furnishings of the sacred rooms at Karlstein Castle . (Exhibition Prague, St. Agnes Monastery , November 12, 1997 - April 26, 1998, heavily abridged German edition of the Czech exhibition catalog). Prague, 1997. ISBN 80-7035-162-4
- Jiří Fajt: Magister Theodoricus - dvorní malíř císaře Karla IV - umělecká výzdoba posvátných prostor hradu Karlštejna . (Exhibition Prague, St. Agnes Monastery, November 12, 1997 - April 26, 1998). Prague, 1997. ISBN 80-7035-142-X
- Gustav E. Pazaurek: Theoderich . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 37, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1894, pp. 708-710.
Web links
- Biogram (Czech), accessed May 17, 2016
- Literature and other media by and about Theodoric of Prague in the catalog of the National Library of the Czech Republic
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Theodoric of Prague |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Theodoricus de Praga (Latin); Mistr Theodorik; Dětřich; Jetřich (Czech) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Court painter to Emperor Charles IV. |
| DATE OF BIRTH | before 1359 |
| DATE OF DEATH | after 1368 |