4:30 p.m.– 6 p.m.

Lecture by Marek Zágora. Only in Czech.

Noah’s Ark was a popular topic in medieval art, providing insights into the medieval world of animals. Because the Book of Genesis does not mention any specific animals as having been occupants of the Ark, artists were sometimes able to give free rein to their imagination. However, they were constrained by the space available to them for depicting the Ark and its “passengers”. Their choices were influenced by prevailing value systems and mindsets – which differed not only between eras but also between regions. The lineup of animals in the Carolingian period thus contrasted starkly with that in the Late Middle Ages. Only one animal remained a constant fixture throughout the entire medieval period – the lion. Besides lions there were also other four-legged wild animals, followed by domestic animals, which are often not easy to identify. Birds were less common, with the exceptions of ravens and doves. The rarest animals were small rodents, snakes and insects. This lecture presents the “animal world” of Noah’s Ark.

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

Booking advance necessary  

free entrance