Many Gateways Lead to the World of Art

For the title of the publication, editors Dagmar Černoušková and Jindřich Chatrný borrowed the opening sentence from Wilhelm Waetzoldt’s art history ‘textbook’ Don’t Be Afraid of Art. The book is dedicated to the eminent Czech art historian Jan Sedlák. Through scholarly studies and essays, as well as personal recollections, it opens many doors to the world of art, which was Jan Sedlák’s lifelong passion and professional calling. At the same time, it pays tribute to a man of extraordinary scholarly erudition and charisma, but also of unmistakable humour and a philosophical outlook on life. The book will delight all those who knew Jan Sedlák personally, those who know him through his excellent writings, and also those who are only just getting to know him and his legacy through this book. Contributors to the publication include, among others, Jiří Kroupa, Milena Flodrová, Pavel Šopák, Jindřich Vybíral, Maria Szadkowska, and the editors themselves, Dagmar Černoušková and Jindřich Chatrný. A number of Sedlák’s friends have added personal memories and reflections. The book also includes an interview with Jan Sedlák’s son Jaromír about his father’s little-known paintings, as well as a selection of photographs. Professor PhDr. Jan Sedlák, CSc. (1943-2016) was one of the leading figures of the so-called “Brno School of Art History”. Professionally, he was associated with the Regional Centre for State Heritage Preservation and Nature Conservation in Brno and the Faculty of Architecture at Brno University of Technology. Until his death, he worked at the Department of Art Theory and History at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Brno. He focused primarily on Santini’s buildings, the Art Nouveau period and modern architecture in Brno. He is the author of a numerous specialist articles and monographs.