The National Gallery received two hundred works by Jan Zrzavý

Prague - The National Gallery in Prague (NG) has acquired 202 works of art by Jan Zrzavý for its collections. The collection, which includes drawings, illustrations, and studies for paintings, was donated to the gallery by its sponsor. The collection will complement Zrzavý's existing collection at the NG, which currently contains over a hundred paintings, 1,500 drawings, a smaller collection of graphics, and documents. A significant portion of this was donated to the gallery by the artist himself in 1975.
    "The National Gallery in Prague will thus be enriched with Zrzavý's graphic works, such as Christ Jan, Dawn, Cubist Study, Reclining Nude Behind a Curtain, and a number of other pieces, which will significantly enhance the already existing collection in our gallery's holdings," said NG director Milan Knížák. The gallery held an exhibition last year featuring Zrzavý's works from its collections to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the artist's death.
    The foundation Children-Culture-Sport, established by entrepreneur Ivo Valenta, founder of the Synot holding, purchased two hundred works by Zrzavý for the NG. The foundation's partners include several companies from this holding, including Synot Lotto, which has financially supported the NG for several years. In the past week, it signed a donation agreement with the gallery for seven million crowns and committed to support the NG with the same amount in 2009 and 2010.
    Last year, the National Gallery in Prague received 289 million crowns from its founder, the Ministry of Culture, for operations and 86 million crowns for investments. It is not possible to ascertain how much money was allocated for acquisitions from the annual report.
    From the ministerial program ISO (Integrated Protection System) intended for the acquisition of significant works of art, two pieces of old art were purchased for the NG for a total of 18 million crowns, as well as two works for the collection of contemporary and modern art and two works for the collection of Oriental art.
    From its own funds, the NG purchased around 50 pieces, received approximately a hundred as gifts, and 12 items were found during a stocktaking review, such as etchings with floor plans, sections of the auditorium, and the facade of the Estates Theatre.
    According to the annual report for 2006, the NG acquired a total of 358 collection items, including 81 as gifts, 112 through purchases, and the rest through inheritance, transfers, or otherwise. The total cost of purchases was over eight million crowns. In 2005, the gallery spent 23.5 million crowns on acquisitions, in 2004 it allocated 32.8 million crowns, a year earlier 16 million crowns, and in 2002 only 4.5 million crowns.