Jano Köhler (sometimes spelled Jano Koehler; 9 February 1873 – January 1941) was a
Czech
Czech may refer to:
* Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe
** Czech language
** Czechs, the people of the area
** Czech culture
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* One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus'
Places
* Czech, ...
painter. He is known for decorating sacral buildings with
frescoes and
sgraffiti
''Sgraffito'' (; plural: ''sgraffiti'') is a technique either of wall decor, produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colours to a moistened surface, or in pottery, by applying to an unfired ceramic body two successive laye ...
.
Life and education
Köhler was born in a Czech-German family, but his German father died soon after. He showed interest in fine arts and went to study in
Prague
Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and List of cities in the Czech Republic, largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 milli ...
. He graduated from
Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design (1893–1897) and
Academy of Fine Arts
The following is a list of notable art schools.
Accredited non-profit art and design colleges
* Adelaide Central School of Art
* Alberta College of Art and Design
* Art Academy of Cincinnati
* Art Center College of Design
* The Art Institute ...
(1897–1900). During his studies, he gained valuable experience in the field of monumental painting, especially in the field of
frescoes and
sgraffiti
''Sgraffito'' (; plural: ''sgraffiti'') is a technique either of wall decor, produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colours to a moistened surface, or in pottery, by applying to an unfired ceramic body two successive laye ...
.
He was student of Kamil Hilbert,
,
Felix Jenewein,
Otakar Hostinský
Otakar Hostinský (2 January 1847, Martiněves (near Litoměřice) – 19 January 1910, Prague) was a Czech historian, musicologist, and professor of musical aesthetics. He is known primarily for his support of composer Bedřich Smetana and ...
,
František Ženíšek and
Maximilian Pirner
Maximilian Pirner ( cs, Maxmilián Pirner; 13 February 1853 in Sušice – 2 April 1924 in Prague) was a Czech painter. He was a member of the Vienna Secession, and associated with the Mánes Union of Fine Arts.
Life and work
He was enrolled fro ...
.
In 1899, he bought a house in
Nenkovice where he set up a studio, and moved here in 1901. From 1926 until his death he lived in
Strážovice. He died in a hospital in Brno in 1941 and was buried in Strážovice.
[
]
Work
Köhler was active mostly in Moravia
Moravia ( , also , ; cs, Morava ; german: link=yes, Mähren ; pl, Morawy ; szl, Morawa; la, Moravia) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia.
The m ...
, but he travelled to work all over the country. He created most of his works in Prostějov
Prostějov (; german: Proßnitz) is a city in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 43,000 inhabitants. The city is known for its fashion industry. The historical city centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an Cultural ...
, where he received his first contract in 1900 to decorate Prostějov Castle. During his career he decorated 40 churches and 35 secular buildings. His work counts a total of 2,500 works, mostly with a religious focus. He created his own distinctive ornament, drawn from the sources of Moravian folk art.[
Köhler specialized in frescoes and sgraffiti, but he also worked with the ceramic ]mosaic
A mosaic is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and were particularly pop ...
technique. During his life he created or designed 40 mosaic works, including decoration of 11 Stations of the Cross on the pilgrimage Hostýn hill.
During the winter months, when work on the buildings was not possible, he devoted himself to designs for the warmer months, and occasionally dealt with watercolors, oil paintings, drawings, illustrations and graphics.[
His notable works include:
;In ]Olomouc Region
Olomouc Region ( cs, Olomoucký kraj; , ; pl, Kraj ołomuniecki) is an administrative unit ( cs, kraj) of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western and central part of its historical region of Moravia (''Morava'') and in a small part of t ...
*Prostějov
Prostějov (; german: Proßnitz) is a city in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 43,000 inhabitants. The city is known for its fashion industry. The historical city centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an Cultural ...
: Prostějov Castle – frescoes and sgraffiti; Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – frescoes
*Olomouc
Olomouc (, , ; german: Olmütz; pl, Ołomuniec ; la, Olomucium or ''Iuliomontium'') is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 99,000 inhabitants, and its larger urban zone has a population of about 384,000 inhabitants (2019).
Located on t ...
: Archbishop's Palace – fresco and sgraffiti; Chapel of Saint Jan Sarkander – frescoes
* Litovel: Gymnasium of Jan Opletal – design of ceramic mosaics with scenes from the history of the town
* Příkazy: Chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius – decoration of interiors
;In Zlín Region
Zlín Region ( cs, Zlínský kraj; , ) is an administrative unit ( cs, kraj) of the Czech Republic, located in the south-eastern part of the historical region of Moravia. It is named after its capital Zlín. Together with the Olomouc Region it f ...
* Luhačovice: Jurkovič House – fresco of Saints Cyril and Methodius; ''Augustiniánský dům'' Hotel – frescoes
*Uherské Hradiště
Uherské Hradiště (; german: Ungarisch Hradisch, hu, Magyarhradis) is a town in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 24,000 inhabitants. The agglomeration with the two neighbouring towns of Staré Město and Kunovice has over ...
: Moravian Slovakia Museum – mosaic allegory of the seasons
* Napajedla: town hall – ceramic mosaic; Church of Saint Bartholomew – decoration of interiors
*Uherský Ostroh
Uherský Ostroh (; german: Ungarisch Ostra) is a town in Uherské Hradiště District in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 4,300 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monumen ...
: bell tower – sgraffiti
* Bystřice pod Hostýnem: Church of Saint Giles – frescoes
* Chvalčov: 11 Stations of the Cross on the Hostýn hill – ceramic mosaic
;In South Moravian Region
The South Moravian Region ( cs, Jihomoravský kraj; , ; sk, Juhomoravský kraj) is an administrative unit () of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia (an exception is Jobova Lhota which trad ...
*Kyjov
Kyjov (; german: Gaya or Geyen) is a town in Hodonín District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 11,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.
Ad ...
: Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary – sgraffiti; Kyjov Castle – sgraffiti
*Tišnov
Tišnov (; german: Tischnowitz) is a town in Brno-Country District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 9,200 inhabitants.
Administrative parts
Villages of Hajánky, Hájek, Jamné and Pejškov are administrative parts ...
: Town hall – sgraffiti
* Blatnice pod Svatým Antonínkem: Chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua – two murals
* Oslnovice: Chapel of the Sacred Heart – decoration of interiors
;In other Czech regions
* Štramberk: Church of Saint John of Nepomuk – decoration of interiors
*Semily
Semily (; german: Semil) is a town in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 8,100 inhabitants.
Administrative parts
Town parts of Bítouchov and Podmoklice and the village of Spálov are administrative parts of Semily.
Geogra ...
: ''Obecní dům'' – ceramic mosaic
Awards
In 1928, Köhler was awarded ''Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
''Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice'' ("For Church and Pope" in Latin) is a decoration of the Holy See. It is currently conferred for distinguished service to the Catholic Church by lay people and clergy.
History
The medal was established by Leo XIII o ...
'' decoration by the pope for the lithography of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Cyril (born Constantine, 826–869) and Methodius (815–885) were two brothers and Byzantine Christian theologians and missionaries. For their work evangelizing the Slavs, they are known as the "Apostles to the Slavs".
They are credited wi ...
in Prostějov, which also appeared on postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors to customers who pay postage (the cost involved in moving, insuring, or registering mail), who then affix the stamp to the f ...
s.[
]
Legacy
Streets in Prostějov- Vrahovice and in Kyjov
Kyjov (; german: Gaya or Geyen) is a town in Hodonín District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 11,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone.
Ad ...
were named after him. There is a permanent museum exhibition about his life and work in Nenkovice.[
A documentary film about work of Jano Köhler was filmed in 2016.]
Gallery
Jano Köhler - Cyril a Metoděj.jpg, Lithography of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Uherské Hradiště, Slovácké muzeum, mozaika.jpg, Moravian Slovakia Museum in Uherské Hradiště
Hostýn-Jurkovičova-křížová-cesta2013benfoto8.jpg, Station of the Cross on Hostýn
Kohler kyjov.jpg, Sgraffito on Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Kyjov
Semily - Obecní dům - mozaika.jpg, Mosaic on ''Obecní dům'' in Semily
Sgrafita Kyjov Sv Cecha 04.jpg, A sgraffito on Kyjov Castle
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kohler, Jano
1873 births
1941 deaths
Artists from Brno
People from the Margraviate of Moravia
Czech male painters
20th-century Czech painters
19th-century Czech people
20th-century Czech people
Czech people of German descent
20th-century Czech male artists