The Jewish Museum in Prague has received a significant donation of six large canvases by American painter Cleve Gray, worth millions of Czech crowns. The paintings were created after Gray’s visit to the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague’s Josefov district, where he was deeply moved by the weight of Jewish history and the graves’ overlapping layers. The paintings, part of the extensive “In Prague” series, were donated by Gray’s family to the museum, marking one of the most significant additions to the museum’s post-war collection.

Michaela Seidenberg, the head curator of the Jewish Museum’s collection, describes the paintings as an emotional and artistic tribute to Jewish heritage and memory, with a value that goes beyond their monetary worth. The canvases represent a metaphor for the unbreakable spirit of dreams and prayers in times when hope seemed out of reach.

Gray’s visit to Prague in 1984 was his first trip behind the Iron Curtain, and he was invited by then-US Ambassador William H. Luers. During his visit, he was deeply moved by the Old Jewish Cemetery and returned the following year to participate in an exhibition of contemporary American art at the ambassador’s residence. The six large-format paintings in the “In Prague” series were created during his visit and capture the essence of the Jewish Cemetery.

The paintings are significant not only for their artistic value but also for their representation of Jewish history and the unbreakable spirit of the Jewish people. The graves and tombstones in the cemetery represent the desire to restore human dignity, even in death. The paintings are a tribute to the Jewish community, and their donation to the museum is a significant contribution to the preservation of Jewish heritage and memory.

The Jewish Museum’s collection includes over 40,000 artifacts, artworks, and memorabilia, making it one of the largest collections of Jewish history and culture in the world. The addition of the six large canvases by Cleve Gray marks a significant moment in the museum’s history, highlighting the ongoing importance of preserving Jewish heritage and memory.

Article by Prague Forum