Josef Vojtěch Hellich (17 April 1807 – 22 January 1880) was a Czech painter and

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...

known mainly for religious works and historical scenes.

Biography

Hellich was born in

Choltice Choltice (german: Choltitz) is a market town in Pardubice District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is ...

. He attended the Academy of Fine Arts, Prague, where he studied with

Joseph Bergler Joseph Bergler the Younger (1 May 1753 – 25 June 1829) was a painter, author of numerous etchings, and director of the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, Prague Academy. Life Bergler was born in Salzburg, the son of sculptor Joseph Bergler the Eld ...

, and the

Academy of Fine Arts, Munich The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich (german: Akademie der Bildenden Künste München, also known as Munich Academy) is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany. It is located in the Maxvorstadt district of Munich, in Bavaria, ...

. This was followed by an extended study and work trip to Italy, Switzerland, France and England. He returned to Prague in 1840 and established a successful studio. With a recommendation from

František Palacký František Palacký (; June 17, 1798 – May 26, 1876) was a Czech historian and politician, the most influential person of the Czech National Revival, called "Father of the Nation". Life František Palacký was born on June 17, 1798 at Hodslavi ...

, he became involved in the activities of the

National Museum A national museum is a museum maintained and funded by a national government. In many countries it denotes a museum run by the central government, while other museums are run by regional or local governments. In other countries a much greater numb ...

; becoming custodian and documentarian for the new archaeological collections. In the following years, he gathered items for the museum from

Kouřim Kouřim (; german: Kaurzim, Kaurzin, Kaurim) is a town in Kolín District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,900 inhabitants. The town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument zone. A ...

, Žatec,

Tábor Tábor (; german: Tabor) is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 33,000 inhabitants. The town centre is well preserved and is protected by law as an urban monument reservation. Administrative parts The followi ...

and České Budějovice; including ornaments from prehistoric burial sites. Then, with the assistance of Professor

Jan Erazim Vocel Jan Erazim Vocel (23 August 1803 – 16 September 1871) was a Czech poet, archaeologist, historian and cultural revivalist. Though as heir to his father's trade he was to become a baker, his parents, observing his youthful enthusiasm for Gothic his ...

, the works were classified and described. Later, he illustrated Vocel's ''O starožitnostech českých a o potřebě chránit je před zkázou'' (Czech Antiquities and the Need to Protect them from Destruction), which became a popular work with

Czech nationalists Czech nationalism is a form of nationalism which asserts that Czechs are a nation and promotes the cultural unity of Czechs. Modern Czech nationalism arose in the 19th century in the form of the Czech National Revival. In 1848, Czech nationalism ...

. He was also a regular contributor of lithographs to the journal '. Together with his fellow painter Vilém Kandler and the writers

Ferdinand Břetislav Mikovec Ferdinand Břetislav Mikovec (14 December 1826, Sloup v Čechách – 22 September 1862, Prague) was a Czech writer, publisher, historian, theatre critic and nationalist. Life and work His father was the administrator of a manor house, and died w ...

and , he published ''Starožitnosti a památky země České'' (Antiquities and Monuments of the Czech Lands). His religious works include over 290

altarpiece An altarpiece is an artwork such as a painting, sculpture or relief representing a religious subject made for placing at the back of or behind the altar of a Christian church. Though most commonly used for a single work of art such as a painting o ...

s which can be seen throughout the Czech Republic. Many of his paintings were acquired by Archbishop Schwarzenberg and Bishop

Jan Valerián Jirsík Jan Valerián Jirsík (19 June 1798, Kácov – 23 February 1883, České Budějovice) was a Roman Catholic clergyman, who was appointed the fourth Bishop of České Budějovice A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a po ...

He died in Prague on 22 January 1880, after contracting

typhoid fever Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is a disease caused by '' Salmonella'' serotype Typhi bacteria. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several ...

from drinking well water that had been contaminated by a flood.

Sources

Brief biography
from ''

Světozor __NOTOC__ ''Světozor'' ("Seeing the World") was a Czech-language illustrated magazine published in 19th and 20th century. History and profile ''Světozor'' was created by Pavel Josef Šafařík in 1834. Šafařík was inspired by the British p ...

'', Vol.21, 1887
Brief biography
from ''Zlatá Praha'', Vol.4, 1886/87
Brief biography
from ''Zlatá Praha'', Vol.1, 1864

External links

"Josef Vojtěch Hellich, malíř a archeolog"
by Dobromila Lebrová @ Pozitivní Noviny
Josef Hellich
@ abART {{DEFAULTSORT:Hellich, Josef 1807 births 1880 deaths People from Choltice 19th-century Czech painters Czech portrait painters Czech illustrators History painters Religious artists Czech archaeologists Deaths from typhoid fever Czech male painters 19th-century Czech male artists

Biography

Sources

Further reading

External links