Oskar Morawetz

Father Josef Cibulka.
Painting by Svabinsky

Translation of dedication:
To Richard Morawetz,
with friendly respect,
Josef Cibulka
20 VI 1947

Jan Kábrt
Photo: 1973

Richard Morawetz had a large collection of art and rare manuscripts. With few exceptions everything was left behind when he fled Czechoslovakia after the German occupation in March 1939. Fortunately most of his collection of paintings was saved by devoted friends, including his administrative assistant Jan Kábrt and a Roman Catholic priest, Father Cibulka. Richard had met Cibulka shortly after purchasing the estate in Světlá. As owner of the castle Richard was also patron of the local church and in this capacity he played host to the bishop of the area and his entourage when they visited Světlá. Father Cibulka, a great admirer of the arts and later director of the National Gallery, was a member of the bishop’s entourage and he and Richard soon became close friends.

Thanks to Cibulka and Kábrt, Richard’s paintings remained “on loan” in the National Gallery in Prague throughout World War 2 and while two of them were removed to Germany (supposedly to become part of Goering’s private collection) all the others, including the most valuable ones, escaped that fate.

One day after his arrival in England, Richard received a package which contained his valuable collection of miniatures. He never did find out who smuggled them out of Czechoslovakia and sent them to him.

After the war, the new Czechoslovak government acknowledged Richard’s ownership of the paintings and other collections, admittedly with the proviso that no part of them could be removed from the country.(*) But once the Communists came to power, they confiscated all his possessions on the preposterous grounds that he had collaborated with the Nazis. Following the 1989 demise of the Communist government and the restoration of democracy in Czechoslovakia, it took Richard’s children six years of badgering to get the government to admit that the charge had been politically motivated and was groundless. Once again, Richard’s ownership or rather, by then, the ownership of his heirs was acknowledged, again with a refusal to remove any of the items from the country even though all paintings by Czech artists were donated to the National Gallery. Subsequently the National Gallery bought some of the other paintings including part of an altar piece by the German artist Cranach, and the Museum of Music has bought part of the collection of scores and manuscripts by Czech musicians. Other negotiations are continuing, with sporadic success.

Judas returning the thirty pieces of silver Painting by unknown 17th century Dutch artist, attributed to Isaac Jonderville, a pupil of Rembrandt. Oil on canvas; copy of a 1629 Rembrandt painting. This painting was sold to a private collector in 2006.	Painting by 17th century Dutch artist, Adriaen van Ostade. This painting was sold in 2001.
Painting by Italian artist, Francesco Melzi. This painting was sold to the National Gallery in Prague in 1998.	Painting by the artist Lucas Cranach. This is only a fragment of a much larger painting destroyed during the 30-year war in the 17th century. This painting was sold to the National Gallery in Prague in 1999.
Saint Anna and the Blessed Virgin Mary Carved polychrome and gilt wood sculpture, typical of late 15th century. This sculpture was sold to a private collector in 2001.	Figure of a Saint (Saint Catherine) Carved wood, example of late 15th century sculpture from one of advanced European centres of late Gothic art. This sculpture was sold to a private collector in 1999.
Portrait of a Man Oil on wooden panel, painting by 17th century Dutch artist, Michiel van Miereveld. This painting was sold to a private collector in 2000.	Door knocker in the form of Neptune and sea horses Patinated bronze, by 16th century Italian sculptor, Alessandro Vittoria. This sculpture was sold to a private collector in 2001.
View of Overschie Painting by unknown 17th century Dutch artist, attributed to follower of Jan van Goyen. Oil on wood, 1635. This painting was given by the family as a gift.
Two Rembrandt Etchings, still in the Morawetz family today:
Christ Healing the Sick Etching and dry-point, 1649, 2nd state More commonly known as the Hundred Guilder Print, as it has been sold various time for 100 Guilders or more, even during Rembrandt's lifetime	Christ driving the money lenders from the Temple

Collections of Richard Morawetz