A Collection of 14 Prints
by the Czech artist
Tavik František
Šimon
(1877-1942)
at
The British Museum
in
London
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1. Bric-ŕ-brac.
1906, Novak 53
Department:
Prints & Drawings; Registration
number: 1949,0411.4528;
Location: East European XXc Unmounted Imp
2. Pont Marie, Paris.
1908, Novak 73
Department: Prints & Drawings; Registration number:
1949,0411.4527 ; Location: East European XXc Unmounted Imp
3. In Memoriam Prague.
1913, Novak 211
Department: Prints & Drawings; Registration number:
1927,1210.10; Location: East European XXc Unmounted Imp
4. Early morning in Paris.
1911, Novak 171
Department: Prints & Drawings; Registration number:
1912,0416.228; Location: East European XXc Unmounted Imp
5. Charles Bridge and Křižovnické náměstí.
Prague. 1914, Novak 217
Department: Prints & Drawings ; Registration number:
1927,1210.9; Location: East European XXc Unmounted Imp
6. The market in Zvoleň, Slovakia. 1925, Novak
421
Department: Prints & Drawings; Registration number:
1927,1210.12; Location: East European XXc Unmounted Imp
7. Puente Nuevo at Ronda, Spain. 1913,
Novak 206
Department: Prints & Drawings; Registration number:
1927,1210.11; Location: East European XXc Unmounted Roy
8. Charles Bridge and Hradčany.
1908, Novak 97
Department: Prints & Drawings; Registration number:
1949,0411.4530; Location: East European XXc Unmounted Roy
9. First flight of the Aeroplane,
Prague. 1909, Novak 106
Department: Prints & Drawings; Registration number:
1912,0416.233; Location: East European XXc Unmounted Roy
10. Passerelle de L'Estacade. 1909, Novak 113
Department: Prints & Drawings; Registration number:
1912,0416.232; Location: East European XXc Unmounted Roy
11. In the wind by the Sea.
1907, Novak 59
Department: Prints & Drawings; Registration number:
1908,1014.336; Location: East European XXc Mounted Imp
12. New York at Night.
1927, Novak 462
Department: Prints & Drawings; Registration number:
1985,1109.105; Location: East European XXc Mounted Imp
13. Stone Bridge, Prague I. 1921, Novak 359
Department: Prints & Drawings; Registration number:
1927,1210.32; Location: East European XXc Unmounted Imp
14. Portrait of the sculptor Josef Mařatka.
1909, Novak 108
Department: Prints & Drawings; Registration number:
1949,0411.4529; Location: East European XXc Unmounted Roy
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1. Bric-ŕ-brac.
1906, Novak 53

Object types: print
Materials: paper
Techniques: soft-ground etching,
colour, aquatint
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1906
Schools /Styles: French;
Czechoslovakian
Description:
Woman leaning against shop doorway, some furniture
and goods displayed outside on pavement and wall.
1906.
Colour soft-ground etching and aquatint, printed
predominantly in brown, green, red and black, on
oriental paper
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed with monogram on plate.
Signed and numbered 67.
Dimensions:
Height: 346 millimetres
Width: 445 millimetres
Subject: shop
Acquisition date: 1949
Acquisition name: Bequeathed by
Campbell Dodgson (see below on this page)
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2. Pont Marie, Paris.
1908, Novak 73

Object types: print
Materials: paper
Techniques: soft-ground etching,
colour, aquatint
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1908
Schools /Styles: French,
Czechoslovakian
Description:
Houseboats moored along riverside, bridge beyond.
1908.
Colour soft-ground etching and aquatint, printed
predominantly in grey, green, brown and black, on
oriental paper
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed with monogram on plate.
Signed and numbered 145.
Dimensions:
Height: 440 millimetres
Width: 375 millimetres
Subject: canal scene
Associated places:
Topographic representation of Seine, River
Topographic representation of Paris
Acquisition date: 1949
Acquisition name: Bequeathed by
Campbell Dodgson (see below on this page)
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3. In Memoriam
Prague.
1913, Novak 211

Object types: print
Materials: paper
Techniques: etching
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1913
Schools /Styles: French;
Czechoslovakian
Description:
View along street with men clearing rubble from
ruined buildings in foreground, castle on hill
beyond. 1913.
Etching, printed in brown
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed in pencil. Bears red
artist's monogram stamp. Verso bears artist's name
and titled.
Dimensions:
Height: 325 millimetres
Width: 388 millimetres
Associated places:
Topographic representation of Czechoslovakia
Acquisition date: 1927
Acquisition name: Donated by
Czechoslovakia
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4. Early morning in
Paris. 1911, Novak 171

Object types: print
Materials: paper
Techniques: etching, colour,
aquatint
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1911
Schools /Styles: French,
Czechoslovakian
Description:
Street scene in Paris with Notre Dame Cathedral
beyond, men by cart in foreground. 1911.
Colour etching and aquatint, printed in black, grey,
green, brown and red, on oriental paper
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed with monogram and dated
on plate. Signed in pencil.
Dimensions:
Height: 248 millimetres
Width: 269 millimetres
Subject: street-scene, church
Associated places:
Topographic representation of Paris
Acquisition date: 1912
Acquisition name: Purchased from
Dulau & Co (see below on this page)
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5. Charles Bridge and Křižovnické náměstí.
Prague. 1914, Novak 217

Object types:
print
Materials: paper
Techniques: etching
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1914
Schools /Styles: French,
Czechoslovakian
Description:
View along length of bridge, carts passing and
people stopping at sides, town beyond. 1914.
Etching
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed with monogram on plate.
Signed in pencil. Bears red artist's monogram stamp.
Verso titled and numbered 209.
Dimensions:
Height: 316 millimetres
Width: 377 millimetres
Subject: bridge
Associated places:
Topographic representation of Prague
Acquisition date: 1927
Acquisition name: Donated by
Czechoslovakia
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6. The market in Zvoleň,
Slovakia. 1925, Novak 421

Object types:
print
Materials: paper
Techniques: soft-ground etching,
colour
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1925
Schools /Styles: French,
Czechoslovakian
Description:
View along street lined with market stalls, church
behind at left. 1925
Colour soft-ground etching
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed and numbered 82. Bears
green artist's monogram stamp.
Verso annotated with artist's name and titled.
Dimensions:
Height: 350 millimetres
Width: 368 millimetres
Subject: market
Associated places:
Topographic representation of Zvolen
Acquisition date: 1927
Acquisition name: Donated by
Czechoslovakia
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7. Puente Nuevo at Ronda, Spain.
1913, Novak 206

Object types:
print
Materials: paper
Techniques: etching
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1913
Schools /Styles: Czechoslovakian
Description:
Bridge built into depth of steep-sided valley. 1913
Etching
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed with monogram, dated and
annotated: "Ronda" on plate. Signed and numbered:
"24". Bears red stamp with artist's monogram.
Dimensions:
Height: 338 millimetres
Width: 235 millimetres
Subject: bridge
Associated places:
Topographic representation of Ronda
Acquisition date: 1927
Acquisition name: Donated by
Czechoslovakia
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8. Charles Bridge and Hradčany.
1908, Novak 97

Object types:
print
Materials: paper
Techniques: etching
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1908
Schools /Styles: Czechoslovakian
Description:
View across river beside bridge, city beyond. 1908
Etching, printed in green-brown ink
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed with monogram and dated
on plate. Signed and numbered 25/50.
Bears red stamp with artist's monogram.
Dimensions
Height: 257 millimetres
Width: 328 millimetres
Subject: bridge
Associated places:
Topographic representation of Prague
Acquisition date: 1949
Acquisition name:
Bequeathed by Campbell Dodgson (see below on this
page)
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9. First flight of the Aeroplane,
Prague. 1909, Novak 106

Object types:
print
Materials: paper
Techniques: etching
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1909
Schools /Styles: Czechoslovakian
Description:
Crowd gathered watching bi-plane flying overhead.
1909
Etching, printed in brown, on oriental paper
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed with monogram on plate.
Signed in pencil.
Dimensions:
Height: 164 millimetres
Width: 193 millimetres
Acquisition date: 1912
Acquisition name:
Purchased from Dulau & Co (see below on this page)
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10. Passerelle de l'Estacade.
1909, Novak 113

Object types:
print
Materials: paper
Techniques: etching
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1909
Schools /Styles: Czechoslovakian
Description:
View of riverside and snowy landscape, figures
crossing wooden bridge. 1909
Etching, on oriental paper
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed with monogram and dated
on plate. Signed in pencil.
Dimensions:
Height: 178 millimetres
Width: 235 millimetres
Acquisition date: 1912
Acquisition name:
Purchased from Dulau & Co (see below on this page)
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11. In the Wind by the Sea.
1907, Novak 59

Object types:
print
Materials: paper
Techniques: etching
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1907
Schools /Styles: Czechoslovakian
Description: Groups of figures and dog on
beach in blustery weather, watching few bathers in
sea. 1907
Etching, printed in brownish ink, on oriental paper
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed with monogram and dated
on plate. Signed and dated.
Dimensions:
Height: 248 millimetres
Width: 319 millimetres
Curator's comments:
See Irena Goldscheider, 'Czechoslovak Prints from
1900 to 1970', (Exhibition Catalogue), BMP, 1986,
no.11.
Subject: beach scene
Acquisition date: 1908
Acquisition name: Purchased from
Dulau & Co (see below on this page)
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12. New York at Night.
1927, Novak 462

Object types:
print
Materials: paper
Techniques: etching, colour
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1927
Schools /Styles: Czechoslovakian
Description:
View along busy street with banners above and
searchlight on tower block. 1927
Colour etching
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed with monogram on plate.
Signed, titled, stamped with monogram and numbered
139.
Dimensions:
Height: 438 millimetres
Width: 335 millimetres
Curator's comments:
See Irena Goldscheider, 'Czechoslovak Prints from
1900 to 1970', (Exhibition Catalogue), BMP, 1986,
no.12.
Šimon had visited New York, among the many cities of
which he made colour prints.
Subject: street-scene
Associated places: Topographic
representation of New York
Acquisition date: 1985
Acquisition name:
Donated by British Museum Friends (see below on this
page)
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13. Stone Bridge, Prague I.
1921, Novak 359

Object types:
print
Materials: paper
Techniques: woodcut, colour
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1921
Schools /Styles: French,
Czechoslovakian
Description:
View of bridge with figures and carts passing,
statue of Christ being lowered from Cross in
foreground. 1921
Colour woodcut, printed in black and yellow ochre,
on oriental paper
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed on block. Signed and
numbered 79. Bears red artist's monogram stamp.
Verso titled.
Dimensions:
Height: 345 millimetres
Width: 467 millimetres
Subject: bridge
Associated names: Representation of
Jesus Christ
Associated places: Topographic
representation of Prague
Acquisition date: 1927
Acquisition name:
Donated by Czechoslovakia
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14. Portrait of the sculptor
Josef Mařatka. 1909, Novak 108

Object types:
print
Materials: paper
Techniques: soft-ground etching,
etching
Production person: Print made by
Frantisek Šimon
Date: 1909
Schools /Styles: Czechoslovakian
Description:
Head of bearded man, almost in profile to
left, study of statue below. 1909
Soft-ground etching and etching, printed in brown
Inscriptions:
Inscription Content: Signed with monogram and dated
on plate. Signed, numbered: "7" and titled in
another hand(?).
Bears red stamp with artist's monogram. Verso
numbered: "5" in ink.
Dimensions:
Height: 262 millimetres
Width: 193 millimetres
Associated names: Portrait of
Mařatka
Acquisition date: 1949
Acquisition name: Bequeathed by
Campbell Dodgson (see below on this page)
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Biographical
details offered by the British Museum |
Frantisek Šimon (Czech male
printmaker, 1877 - 1942)
Bibliography
Arthur Novak, 'Seznam Grafickych Pracu T F Šimon a', 1937
(An English translation of Novak's catalogue raisonne is at
http://www.tfsimon.com /index1.htm
- it adds much more prints to the 626 in Novak).
Biography
Printmaker. Studied in Prague at Akademie výtvarných umení (Academy
of Fine Arts, 1894-1900) with M.Pirner. Travelled to Yugoslavia,
Italy in 1902 and to Paris in 1903 with H. Boettinger; remained in
Paris 1904-1914, during which time he visited Spain, England,
Morocco; in 1926-7 travelled around the world. Became a member of 'SVU
Mánes' in 1898, 'Hollar' in 1917, 'Societé de la gravure en couleurs'
in Paris,1906 and the 'Royal Society of Painters' in London, 1910.
From 1928, teacher of printmaking at the Academy in Prague.
Also known as: Šimon , Tavik Frantisek
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Campbell Dodgson : British
male curator, 1867 - 1948
Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum, 1912-32, having
joined the department in 1893.
Bibliography: Frances Carey, "Campbell Dodgson (1867-1948)", in
Antony Griffiths (ed.), 'Landmarks in Print Collecting', (London:
British Museum Press, 1996) and Frances Carey in the Oxford
Dictionary of National Biography
Lugt 521bis (bequest), Lugt 521
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Dulau & Co: British print
dealer and publisher of travel and anthropological texts; also
published woodcuts by Gauber (q.v.).
Address: 37 Soho Square, London
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British Museum Friends (BMF)
Founded as the British Museum Society in the 1970s. Changed name to
the British Museum Friends as from the beginning of 2000.
The Townley Group within the BM Friends makes additional
contributions to support particular projects and acquisitions.
Acquisitions supported by the Townley Group should be recorded in
the Comment field for British Museum Friends.
References to special running funds should be entered in Acquisition
Name Comment field.
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NOTA BENE:
1. the text above is from of the BM, but we made some corrections
(titles, dates);
2. the photo of the BM is from 1890-1900;
3. Josef Mařatka (*Prague 21-05-1874 - + Prague, Břevnov 20-04-1937)
was Czech sculptor.
He made all the difference to the character of the sculpture of
Czechoslovakia, for he not only spent three years in Rodin's studio
and assisted him with several important works, but he arranged, in
1903, the first Rodin exhibition in Prague. He was at home not only
in Rodin's studio in the rue de l`Université, but at Meudon, too,
and in this way, in 1904, his first important works were issued with
Rodin's imprimatur. On leaving the Master, and by his influence, he
obtained the commission for the Santos-Dumont monument for Buenos
Aires. He returned to Prague and became the collaborator of
Stanislas Sucharda in the execution of part of the Palacky memorial.
He then went again to Paris to finish the Santos-Dumont model.
Bourdelle, keen as always, was interested in the struggle of the
Czechs and Slovaks, and, in 1909, a Bourdelle exhibition was held in
Prague, which also had its definite influence on the future of
Czechoslovakian sculpture. Although Mařatka's association with
Rodin, Bourdelle and others was so close, his work does not offer
definite resemblances : he himself was too definitely an original
artist to be so affected. His Souvenir, a nude woman sitting
sideways, shows the sculptor's sufficiency in form ; his
portrait-bust of Antonin Dvorak, the composer, in character, while
his Intelligence, a draped female figure, exhibited at the Salon
d'Automne in 1914, displays his idea of womanly grace. The statues
at the entrance to the Town Hall at Prague are by Mařatka, as well
as figures on the top storey ; two granite bas-reliefs are on the
Rudolphinum bridge, the subjects being Commerce and Work ; he has
made a monument to Hlavka at Prague, and there are statues on the
Maison Corn- munale there. At the Czechoslovak exhibition at Paris
in 1920, Mařatka was represented by a bronze statuette of a Young
Mother, Legionnaire Tchecoslovaque, Un Tchecoslovaque blessé,
Symphony, and A Souvenir, and another work of his, seen at the
Salon, was a bust of Santos-Dumont. At Venice, in 1920, he had a
group of four bronzes, including the bust of Dvorak. Mařatka brought
back to his native land the culture of France, and he showed the
younger men what they could gain by following his example.
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T.F. Šimon (F.Šimon ), Hugo Boettinger and Bohunil
Kafka visited the museum in 1905. |
Josef Mařatka.
Bronze,
height 19cm.
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www.tfsimon.com
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