An Honorable Visit: Renaissance Sculptural Portraits from the Clam-Gallas Family Collection
For the first time in history, an exhibition at the State Castle and Chateau Frýdlant presents to both Czech and international audiences a quartet of newly discovered Renaissance busts. The busts, carved from white Carrara marble, depict four rulers connected to the Habsburg dynasty.
We are honored by the noble presence of Filibert II (1480–1504), Duke of Savoy; his wife, the imperial daughter and aunt, Margaret of Austria (1480–1530), Governor of the Netherlands; her nephew, the Habsburg Emperor Charles V (1500–1558); and finally William V (1548–1626), Duke of Bavaria.
The first two sculptures are the work of the renowned Renaissance sculptor Conrad Meit. Already famous in their own time, they were believed to have been destroyed since the late 16th century.
The four busts are complemented in the exhibition by artifacts that explore the theme of courtly life and culture—such as relics from Charles V's coffin, the Order of the Golden Fleece, the genealogy of the House of Savoy, medals of Charles V, and portraits of their collectors, Christian Christoph and Josepha Clam-Gallas.
In a unique curatorial intervention, the exhibition enriches and crowns the castle’s permanent display.
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