Join us as we travel back in time, utilizing uniquely preserved historical sources such as the five-language travel diary of Heřman Jakub Černín from 1678-1682, and the richly illustrated book of friendship (album amicorum) of his father, Humprecht Jan, recently discovered at the Morgan Library in New York.

Event Details:

Date/Time: January 25, 2023, at 6 pm

Location: Embassy of the Czech Republic

3900 Spring of Freedom Street, NW

Washington, DC 20008

RSVP required: https://czerninjourney.eventbrite.com

Historical Background:
The cultural heritage of the Czech Republic, consisting of artistic, architectural, written or musical culture, is enormous and shapes our identity. A significant part of it dates back to the Baroque period. One of the noble families to whom we owe this heritage is Czernin of Chudenice family. The generations that lived in the 17th and 18th centuries significantly influenced the cultural milieu of Prague and Vienna, and their building and collecting activities are still clearly visible today (among them castles and palaces, including the Baroque Czernin Palace in Prague's Hradčany - the seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). These engagements would not have been possible without a quality education concluded with the so-called Grand Tour - a long journey to southern and western Europe. During such a trip, the young noblemen became familiar with current cultural trends, improved their foreign languages and established important contacts.

About the Lecturer:
Eva Chodějovská, Ph.D., is currently a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. She studied history, archival studies and architectural history at universities in Prague, Pardubice and Rome. In the Czech Republic, she worked for ten years at the Institute of History of the Czech Academy of Sciences and is now a map librarian and researcher at the Moravian Library in Brno. She also gives lectures at Masaryk University. Eva's research topic is, generally speaking, "space." She has long been working on the history of travel, urban history and history of mapping. Her research emphasizes digital methods. This is what led her to collaborate with the Digital Art History & Visual Culture Research Lab at Duke University. She wrote and co-authored dozens of books, atlases, scholarly studies and publications for the public, for which she has won the Magnesia litera and the Enrico Guidoni Prize.

Embassy Policy:
By registering, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists by attending this event on the premises of the Embassy of the Czech Republic. You and any family members and guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and the Embassy of the Czech Republic or any of their diplomats, staff, contractors, affiliates, employees, agents, or volunteers liable for any illness, injury, or death. The Embassy of the Czech Republic disclaims and excludes any and all liability for any loss, injury, or damage, alleged to have been suffered by or as a result of or otherwise on its premises.

Masks are recommended. At its discretion, the Embassy may take your temperature upon arrival. No large bags are allowed. Small purses may be checked as you pass through security for entrance. RSVP confirmation and photo ID required.