František Bílek

He graduated from primary school in Tábor, then went to study painting with Professor Maxmilián Pirner at the Academy of Fine Arts Prague.

As it turned out, he was color blind so, on the advice of his teachers, he transferred to the State Industrial School, where he studied sculpture with Josef Mauder.

In 1891, he received a scholarship from a patron, the businessman Vojtěch Lanna [cs], which enabled him to study in Paris at the Académie Colarossi, with Jean Antoine Injalbert.

When the old city walls were demolished, he bought some land in the Hradčany district where, in 1911, he designed and built the Villa Bílek; set freely in a natural environment.

[citation needed] Today, there is a permanent exhibition operated by the Gallery of the Capital City [cs].