Nosticova Residence, Prague

At the end of the 16th century Prague became the center of occultism. The eccentric Emperor Rudolph II brought in the spirit of the late Renaissance through his passion for mysterious arts and science. Many alchemists from across Europe came to Prague to enjoy the generous patronage of the Imperial court. The obsessed Rudolph II employed more than 200 alchemists and charlatans in the hope of discovering the secret formula for converting base metals into gold. Despite no apparent results up to now, the challenging research still goes on, mostly in our kitchen.

Behind the canopied bed a very 1900s lady who is smiling at us and presenting a bouquet of flowers. Under the arch of one of the vaults two beautiful antique-style sculpted heads watch attentively.

Light and attractive, a beautiful charcoal drawing of Simon. Belle époque and in total harmony with its surroundings. In the salon a large oval post-impressionist painting represents two young girls playing with flowers in a garden.

Here we discover two beautiful marines, or sea paintings. The smallest is astonishingly reminiscent of the works of Ivan Constantinovitch Aivasowsky 1817-1900.the great master of marines of the 19th century. There is also an oil painting of Prague in the snow.

In the bedroom we see two superb octagonal paintings – a woman and man of quality that remind us, even if a little later, of the imposing portraits by Winterhalter, painter for the court and the haute bourgeoisie. At the upper floor of the penthouse we find an historical painting representing Jan Hus at the stake and a very nice landscape.

Behind the imposing grand piano we find a very large, very charming painting in clear tones, which represents two women at their leisure, in a more modern technique that is very attractive.

A beautiful light impressionist landscape in yellow and green tones is to the right of the bed, opposite two portraits of 19th century soldiers in Austro-Hungarian uniforms.

A dreaming woman on a rock in the sea watching a sunset, oil on canvas, in the style of B.Knupfer. Another similar painting shows three generations: a grandfather, a mother and a little girl playing in a park. Above the bed a charming small symbolist painting. All of them date from the 19th century.

Majestic portrait in the style of Tiziano Vecellio 1490-1576, after a lost original.

Two paintings representing sailing boats on a rough sea in the traditional style of the old Dutch masters. Facing the bed there is a large, imposing painting of a naked woman with a beautiful gilded frame.