4:30 p.m.– 6 p.m.

Lecture by Marek Zágora. Only in Czech.

Comedy in the Middle Ages, and its reflection in medieval art, has been the subject of considerable interest in recent years. However, the boundaries of medieval comedy are very fragile. What we find funny (and even ridiculous) today often had a very different meaning in medieval times – indeed sometimes a very serious meaning. This is why historians differ in their approach to medieval comic scenes, particularly to those depicted in manuscripts. For some, these scenes represent an attempt to express the meaning of the text in a different way. Others see the playful border illustrations as miniature works that distract attention from the main text, whose artists were inspired by secular joys, medieval folklore, and even ancient pagan beliefs. However, it is not possible to interpret these works without reference to surviving written sources, which at least partially help us to understand the scenes that bring a smile to our lips. This lecture is the third in a series exploring selected artworks with a “comic” message.

The lecture will be streamed live on Facebooku and the gallery’s YouTube channel.

Booking in advance necessary  

free entrance