Karel Škréta

Karel Škréta

Self portrait of Karel Škréta, 1647
Born Karel Škréta Šotnovský ze Závořic
1610
Prague, Bohemia
Died July 30, 1674 (aged c. 64)
Prague, Bohemia
Nationality Czech
Known for Painting
Notable work Sv. Martin se dělí se žebrákem o plášť, 1645
Movement Baroque

Karel Škréta or Carolus Creten (1610 – July 30, 1674) was a Czech Baroque painter.

Biography

Škréta was born and died in Prague. His full name was Karel Škréta Šotonovský ze Závořic. Karel learnt painting perhaps from one of the masters at the royal court. He studied in Saxony and in Italy. According to Houbraken he painted portraits and lived together with the respected watercolor painter Willem Bouwer in Rome.[1][2] He became a member of the Bentvueghels with the nickname Slagzwaart[2] or Slach-sweerd.[3] According to the RKD he was the teacher of the Prague painter Johann Georg Heinsch (1640–1713).[4]

Since 1638 he lived in Prague, where he worked on altarpieces for many churches, for example St. Thomas, St. Stephen or the Church of Our Lady in front of Týn.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Karel Škréta.

References

  1. Het Gulden Cabinet, p 114
  2. 2.0 2.1 (Dutch) Carolus Creten in De groote schouburgh der Nederlantsche konstschilders en schilderessen (1718) by Arnold Houbraken, courtesy of the Digital library for Dutch literature
  3. Het Gulden Cabinet, p 251
  4. Karel Sotnovsky Skreta in the RKD