Projects & Grants
| The Mystical Hunt of the Unicorn: The Jeníkov Altarpiece in the Context of Late Medieval Monastic Devotion and Art | |
|---|---|
| Project Id | SGS02/FF/2026 |
| Main solver | Anna GARCIA |
| Period | 1/2026 - 12/2026 |
| Provider | Specifický VŠ výzkum |
| State | solved |
| Anotation | The project focuses on a thorough iconographic and iconological analysis of a unique monument of late Gothic painting in northern Bohemia ? the Jeníkov Altarpiece, which has not yet been comprehensively studied. Its main panel depicts, within the context of Czech medieval art, a singular motif: the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary in the form of the Mystical Hunt of the Unicorn, which in medieval European theology and art was understood as an allegory of the Immaculate Conception and the moment of Christ?s earthly incarnation. The primary aim of the project is to clarify the cultural and geographical origin of the work, which remains uncertain, to examine in detail the altarpiece?s iconographic program and artistic form, and to situate it within the broader context of Central European late Gothic painting. My research will also include a comparison with contemporaneous works from the German lands, particularly from female monastic institutions, from which the altarpiece likely originated. Furthermore, I will devote special attention to the relationship between unicorn symbolism and medieval female mysticism in both sacred and courtly environments. Methodologically, the project will be grounded in the iconographic-iconological approach and formal analysis, supported by a detailed study of primary sources and secondary literature. The project also includes research visits to the Austrian National Library in Vienna, the art history library at the University of Vienna (Fachbibliothek Kunstgeschichte), and the Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte in Munich, where relevant sources and scholarly literature are located. With this project, I seek to present a comprehensive interpretation of the Jeníkov Altarpiece and thus contribute to understanding the cultural connections between Czech and German regions in the late Middle Ages. |
| Total Costs | 187 506 CZK |
