Journal ARS 51 (2018) 1-2

Daniela BŘÍZOVÁ

Diplomatic Relations Between Bohemia and England in the Second Half of the 14th Century and Their Influence on Flourishment of the Visual Arts at the Royal Court of Richard II

(Summary)

The article is dedicated to the question of political and cultural relations of Bohemia and England in the second half of the 14th century. The mobility of individuals and groups of nobles and artists throughout the European royal courts during the fourteenth century brought about great flourishment to the court culture. The transimission of cultural influences was reinforced through political marriages which promoted penetration of foreign artistic elements into the arts and crafts. These elements bear distinguishable visual signs that clearly differ from the local production and serve as an evidence of a truly intensive connection among the European courts. This holds true for the marriage of Anne of Bohemia, daughter to the Bohemian King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, to the English king Richard II Plantagenet in 1382. This article strives to interpret the marriage from the perspective of the cultural exchange and its potential evidence in form of the art works which were created during the reign of Richard II. The key question to be explored is whether the flourisment of arts at the royal court of Richard II can be at least partially ascribed to the afformentioned marriage. Furthermore, the article rises questions regarding style affinities of the art works created at the royal court of Richard II after 1382. A small number of preserved art works of the period hampers construction of relevant developmental line, thus leaving a form analysis as the key method to be employed. The Wilton Diptych, the Apocalypse in the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey and the Liber Regalis are the most notable works of art preserved from the Ricardian era. The Royal Court of Charles IV was seen as the centre of high culture and manners in the eyes of His contemporaries. This perspective remained unchainged to the present day and a number of scholars and researchers consider the high quality of the Ricardian produce to be an evidence of Bohemian influence. The relevance of such a hypothesis is hence discussed in the article.