Josef Portman’s Mania

“You are unique dear Portman”

16 June – 8 September 2019

open Tue-Sun and holidays 10 a.m. – 12 a.m., 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Litomyšl Municipal Gallery, dům U Rytířů, Litomyšl

vernissage | 15 June from 5 p.m.

curators | Vilma Hubáčková, Bronislava Rokytová

promoted by | Litomyšl Municipal Gallery with Museum of the Czech Literature Prague

The generously conceived exhibition focuses on the life and professional fate of Litomyšl native, teacher, librarian, printer, bibliophile and collector Josef Portman, who devoted his entire life to beautiful books. Not only as the collector, but also as a creator and printer. On the artistic decoration of books of his favourite authors - Otokar Brezina, Jaroslav Durych, Charles Baudelaire and Edgar Allan Poe – he collaborated with leading Czech but also foreign artists - Jan Konupka, Josef Váchal, Jan Zrzavý, Josef Čapek, George Rouault and Odilon Redon. Also extensive was his work as a collector, focused mainly on the symbolist and decadent artists. His gifts greatly enriched the collections of Litomyšl’s galleries and the Museum of Czech Literature in Prague, to which he devoted a substantial part of his life's work. Now in cooperation with this institution an extensive exhibition has been created, which for the first time comprehensively presents the figure of Josef Portman.


Exhibitions 2019       Exhibitions at this venue