4:30 p.m.– 6 p.m.

Lecture by Marek Zágora. Only in Czech.

When we look at medieval manuscripts – such as bestiaries, which offer fascinating insights into the symbolism and perception of animals in the Middle Ages – a rich and varied world unfolds before us, one in which various fantastical creatures played an important role. To a 21st-century person, these creatures are clearly the product of medieval (or even pre-medieval) imagination. For people in the Middle Ages, however, they were absolutely real beings, which could perhaps be encountered in the wild. Medieval people devoted a lot of thought to these fantastical creatures, and surviving works of art from the era – whether manuscripts or other forms of art – constitute a rich treasure-house of amazing depictions revealing to us the unique array of beings that populated the medieval “fantasy” world. This is why it is impossible to speak of the Middle Ages without dragons, griffins, sirens, or the elusive mythical unicorns. This lecture will open your eyes to the mysterious and breathtaking world of medieval fantastical creatures – including their symbolism, which continues to inspire us today.

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

Advance booking is necessary.

free of charge