Temporary Exhibition: Deep in Thoughts. Dvořák, Hošek, and the Story of a Monument

Deep in Thoughts. Dvořák, Hošek, and the Story of a Monument

In the center of Nelahozeves, Antonín Dvořák is portrayed not as a composer enshrined in music history, but as a conductor in the instant before his first gesture. Since May 1988, the more than three-meter-tall bronze figure has been one of the village's defining landmarks. But why was Dvořák depicted in this particular way, and what preceded the creation of the monument?

Through sketches, models, and plaster studies, the exhibition reveals the stages of artistic creation that usually remain hidden behind studio doors. How many times did the sculptor alter the appearance of Dvořák’s head before arriving at the final form? How does clay become a monumental bronze sculpture? The surviving studies trace the process step by step, temporarily transforming the exhibition room into a workshop.

The sculptor himself also offers answers. In a documentary film, Zdeněk Hošek reflects on the moments that shaped the final portrayal of Dvořák. Produced exclusively for this exhibition, the film will not be publicly screened outside the Antonín Dvořák Birth House.

Searching for Dvořák's Likeness

At the end of 1981, the question arose as to what form the new Dvořák monument would take. An anonymous public sculpture and architecture competition drew 45 entries—each reflecting different visions of how to portray the composer and how to integrate his monument into the newly emerging center of Nelahozeves.

In the end, the jury was captivated by Hošek’s design, Deep in Thoughts. What was behind his victory?

“The sculptural design very well characterizes Antonín Dvořák as a composer and conductor; artistically, it is well executed in an unconventional realistic style that fully corresponds to the conceptual intent of the monument and offers good prospects for the final sculptural work,” the jury agreed.

In Zdeněk Hošek's Studio

Work on the monument then continued in Hošek’s studio in the picturesque village of Květnice. The creation of the work ultimately took several years, during which the sculptor gradually developed his original vision into its final form.

The bronze statue was ceremonially unveiled on May 18, 1988.

A New Face of Nelahozeves

In addition to the creative process, the temporary exhibition also explores the transformation of public space itself. As recently as the second half of the 20th century, the site of today’s Dvořák Monument looked completely different.

There used to be a farmyard here, whose history dated back further than that of Nelahozeves Castle itself. After its demolition in 1979, a plan was drawn up to build a park here, with the new Dvořák Monument as its natural centerpiece.

The ticket is also valid for the museum's permanent exhibition.

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