Prague astronomical clock: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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=== 2022 reconstruction controversy ===

The artwork on the Orloj became the center of controversy after a local heritage group noticed the reproduction had "radically changed the appearance, ages, skin tone, dress and even genders of the figures" illustrated by Mánes in 1866.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/02/pragues-orloj-clock-centre-row-artist-amateur-restoration|title=Prague's Orloj clock at centre of row over artist's 'amateur' reproduction|date=2022-06-02|website=theguardian.com|access-date=2022-06-03}}</ref> A member of the Club for Old Prague, Milan Patka, registered a complaint with the [[Ministry of Culture (Czechia)|Ministry of Culture]], alleging that in the restoration, painter Stanislav Jirčík had deviated from the "spirit and detail" of the original.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.radio.cz/was-reconstruction-pragues-famous-astronomical-clock-botched-8752038|title=Was the reconstruction of Prague's famous astronomical clock botched?|date=2022-06-02|website=radio.cz|access-date=2022-06-03}}</ref> The [[National Heritage Inspectorate]] began investigations into the allegations.

''The Guardian'' reported that the artist may have put the likenesses of his friends and acquaintances into the work, "possibly as a joke."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/02/pragues-orloj-clock-centre-row-artist-amateur-restoration|title=Prague's Orloj clock at centre of row over artist's 'amateur' reproduction|date=2022-06-02|website=theguardian.com|access-date=2022-06-03}}</ref> Upon this discovery, the Prague city council's deputy mayor for transport and heritage criticized the botched restoration as "banal and done by an amateur" and suggested the city might need to commission a replacement. It is not yet known how the restoration's discrepancy with the original had escaped detection when the work was installed in 2018.