The canvas of the Czech artist Venceslav Cerny depicts Austrian and Hungarian prisoners in the Urals during the First World War. Foreign prisoners of war began to arrive to the Urals during the first months of the war. They usually constructed buildings or worked at factories. For instance, in Alapayevsk they worked at the metallurgical plant.
Austrian Prisoners of War in the Urals
Creation period
Early 20th century
Dimensions
49x63,8 cm
Technique
Oil, canvas
1
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Venceslav Cerny
Austrian Prisoners of War in the Urals
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Venceslav Cerny painted the Austrian Prisoners of War in the Urals in the tradition of realistic art. Cerny took a course at the Prague Academy of Art, and then at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. He adhered to the genres of battle and historical painting. Also he illustrated books and other printed materials for publishers, newspapers and magazines in Prague.
Venceslav Cerny. Source: wikipedia.org
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The artist made illustrations for historical and science fiction books of famous writers. He was the author of illustrations for the books by Jules Verne and for the memoirs of Giacomo Casanova who had become famous for his love affairs. The artist traveled around the Czech Republic and studied the history of the country.
The artist made several open-air sketches of the Austrian Prisoners of War in the Urals, then worked with sitters creating images of peasants, soldiers, officers and prisoners of war. Researchers suggest that the painter conceived a large multifaceted picture, and the exhibit presented at the exhibition is just a small sketch, part of a bigger idea.
The artist made several open-air sketches of the Austrian Prisoners of War in the Urals, then worked with sitters creating images of peasants, soldiers, officers and prisoners of war. Researchers suggest that the painter conceived a large multifaceted picture, and the exhibit presented at the exhibition is just a small sketch, part of a bigger idea.
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Many prisoners never left the Urals after the end of the First World War. During the Civil War in Russia, some of them entered the Red Army as volunteers and formed several international units. Red Army soldiers of Austrian origin also guarded the prisoners of the Napolnaya School, members of the Russian Imperial house who were brought here after the revolution. The Romanovs and their close servants were expelled from Petrograd in March 1918, and at the end of May they ended up in Alapayevsk where they were placed in the former building of the Napolnaya School.
The fact that the Romanovs were guarded by former Austrian prisoners of war was later recalled by the cook Alexandra Krivova who had served the royal family during their imprisonment. She recalled that the Austrian soldiers were very rude to the captives. At night, they would break into the princes’ rooms almost every hour to search them.
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Sverdlovsk State Regional Ethnography Museum
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Austrian Prisoners of War in the Urals
Creation period
Early 20th century
Dimensions
49x63,8 cm
Technique
Oil, canvas
1
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