Franz Count Thun-Hohenstein

Franz count Thun-Hohenstein (1809-1870) was a distinguished personality of Prague cultural life in the third quarter of the 19th century. Since 1839 he was secretary of the artists' association Krasoumná jednota. He was also instrumental in the setting up of the Public fund for costly public monuments - in subsequent years money from the fund was also used to buy art works at annual exhibitions. He was head of the Association for the completion of St Vitus Cathedral since its establishment in 1859, in the 1850s he held a special post at the Ministry of education in Vienna and since 1862 was conservationist of historic architectural monuments in Bohemia. In 1865-1870 he was 5th president of the Society of Patriotic Friends of the Arts. Myslbek's monumental half-length portrait of count Thun-Hohenstein highlights the count's face, its rigid features and strict, resolute expression bespeak a determined, successful and self-confident man.