Summary: The territory of southwestern Bohemia in the Jagiellonian period is linked with the expansion of the estate of the influential aristocratic Švihovský of Rýzmberk family and the growth of dominions of related families (such the barons of Rýzmberk and Dolany, Rožmitál, ?ernín and Chudenice). The members of these families owned large dominions, held the highest positions in the kingdom and were the wealthiest figures in the Kingdom of Bohemia. Their tremendous political influence also grew owing to their skilful loan policies - their major debtors included the two Jagiellonian kings, Vladislav (Vladislaus) and Ludvík (Louis). Moreover, the king resided mostly in Hungary and actual power lay with the highest aristocracy with the two above-mentioned families occupying a privileged position. Their high social status was also reflected in their extensive donations; they commissioned most of the artworks in southwestern Bohemia and their involvement in the arts was the greatest in the Kingdom of Bohemia. The exhibition thus presents artworks commissioned by these aristocratic families, especially the Švihovskýs of Rýzmberk, works such as the Epitaph of P?ta Švihovský from 1504 or the surviving parts of the original altarpiece from the castle church in Rabí from 1498. The other part of the exhibition presents artworks that owe their existence to towns. The exhibition's greatest discoveries include previously unknown reliefs from the main altarpiece of the decanal church in Klatovy with motifs of Christ's childhood. The monumental carvings, of excellent artistic quality and in the style of the so-called Danube school, were done after 1521 in Passau, Bavaria (Germany), where the Klatovy town council commissioned it. Three sculptures - its central Virgin Mary with Christ Child has become the face of this exhibition - were done for the main altarpiece in the town church in Kašperské Hory. The country's largest gold deposits were located in the vicinity of Kašperské Hory, and the towns situated along the Gold Path were also becoming wealthy from its mining and distribution. The world of the carvers, painters and other craftsmen who produced artefacts is reflected in the exhibition's third part: The Phenomenon of Carving Workshops. The unique side-by-side display of the Master of the Lamentation of Christ from Zvíkov and the Master of the Lamentation of Christ from Žebrák dating from the first quarter of the 16th century (Lamentation of Christ from Zvíkov Castle, Lamentation of Christ from Žebrák) allows us insight into how the carvers worked and how the artistic tradition grew out of the sharing and conveying of stylistic forms. These two iconic late Gothic artworks are being for the first time in the National Gallery in Prague thanks to the understanding and support of their lenders (who provided their utmost assistance during the exhibition's preparation). The display of the two Lamentations further allows us to observe the differences in approach of the Zvíkov and Žebrák Masters of the Lamentation of Christ, both of them major Bohemian late Gothic artists.

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