František Ženíšek

He was part of the "Generace Národního divadla [cs]" (Generation of the National Theater), a large group of artists with nationalistic sympathies.

His father nervously agreed to let him pursue his interests and allowed him to take lessons from Karel Javůrek whilst he was still in school.

[3] Whilst on a study tour to Paris, he gained an important friend and supporter in Josef Šebestián Daubek, a well-known patron of the arts, who requested him to decorate his home in Liteň.

[4] Soon after returning from Paris, Ženíšek and Mikoláš Aleš won a competition to decorate the foyer of the National Theater with historic and allegorical designs.

[2] In 1898, he was one of the founders of "Jednota umělců výtvarných [cs]" (Union of Fine Artists), in an effort to strengthen the Czech nationalist viewpoint in the arts.