Old Town Hall by Samuel Prout - Prague, Czech Republic
Posted by: 
ToRo61
N 50° 05.231 E 014° 25.254
33U E 458572 N 5548484
The corner of Old Town Hall by Samuel Prout
Waymark Code: WMTZTH
Location: Hlavní město Praha, Czechia
Date Posted: 01/29/2017
Views: 37
The Old Town Hall is one of the most significant architectural landmarks. For that and for its historical significance the Hall was rightly declared a cultural monument in 1962.
The Old Town Hall was founded by a privilege of King Jan Lucemburský issued on 18th September 1338 in Amiens. The King fulfilled old wishes of townsfolk and by this privilege arouse the degree of municipal government. The Hall as we know it today was founded by merging successively purchased or as a gift received common houses, which were many times reconstructed throughout the centuries.
Also the Hall tower was build gradually. A chapel was established on the first floor of the tower in the mid 14th century and after its expansion the chapel was consecrated by Bishop Hynek Vladimirský.
The extension for astronomical clock was built between the two supporting south pillars. One of the miracles of the medieval engineering was constructed by royal clock maker Mikuláš from Kadan in 1410. The clock was constructed by calculations of Prague University Master and astronomer J. Šindel. Even though the clock had many repairs the original system was preserved until today. Crowds of tourists are admiring specially the mechanical parts of the astronomical clock always at the day hours but its astronomical part is much more significant.
The author of this painting is Samuel Prout (
visit link) .
Samuel Prout (17 September 1783 – 10 February 1852) was one of the masters of British watercolour architectural painting. Prout secured the position of Painter in Water-Colours in Ordinary to King George IV in 1829 and afterwards to Queen Victoria.