Karel Svoboda (artist)

Karel Svoboda (14 June 1824, Plánice - 13 September 1870, Vienna) was a Czech/Austrian painter, primarily of historical scenes, which are notable for their accurate detail.

His talent attracted the attention of Count Franz von Thun, who helped him to enter the Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied under Christian Ruben.

Despite relocating, he took an assignment to create historical murals at Queen Anne's Summer Palace (Le Belvédère) back in Prague.

He also served as a drawing instructor at the Gymnasium in Schottenfeld (Neubau) and provided illustrations for several books of poetry, including the "Rukopis Královédvorský" (Königinhofer Handschrift), a Medieval song collection which became the source of much controversy, as it was believed to be a forgery by the Czech philologist Václav Hanka (an assertion which later proved to be true, although the arguments continue even now).

He exhibited widely and painted eleven frescoes at the Bishop's Palace in Czernowitz as well as ten panels on the story of "Iphigenia" for the Vienna State Opera.