We commemorate the 350th anniversary of the death of painter Karel Škréta in 2024. On this occasion, a half-ounce gold medal of the Czech Mint has been created, which is part of a free cycle of the most beautiful unrealised designs entered into the Czech National Bank's competition.

The Battle of White Mountain changed the course of Czech history. After the defeat of the Estates' Revolt, the country underwent a harsh recatholization and half a million Czechs went abroad to escape religious oppression. Karel Škréta, a gifted eighteen-year-old painter who came from a patrician family of Protestant faith in Prague, also took part in this exodus. Although he lost his property and status, he turned the tragedy into an opportunity. He visited Germany, Switzerland and finally Italy, where he fell in love with the emerging Baroque. He adopted a style characterized by a return to Christian motifs or plump shapes and dynamic figures with great sovereignty. When he returned to Prague after ten years in exile, it quickly became clear that he was not only a great artist, but also a pragmatist with a purpose. In order to regain the family fortune, he did not hesitate to convert to the Catholic faith and soon afterwards became one of the most sought-after artists of his time. In fact, he brought a new style to the heart of Europe, embellished and powerful, which underlined the status of the new masters of the Bohemian land - the Habsburgs and the Catholic Church. He did not shy away from any genre of painting. The faces he portrayed laid bare what was hidden within, and his monumental altarpieces exuded narrative mastery. He had built up a wide customer base and knew his worth. "Škréta is a good painter, but he also looks to be well paid," said Emperor Ferdinand III himself. The founder of the Bohemian Baroque, who is considered the greatest Czech painter of the modern era, attracted attention even outside artistic circles. He was impetuous and energetic. He enjoyed fights and controversies that got him into trouble, and when the Swedes invaded Prague, he did not hesitate to defend the barricades with a gun in his hand...

The design of the medal maker MgA. Josef Oplištil served as a template for mintage of a commemorative medal. The expert committee of the Czech National Bank awarded him first place in the art competition, however, the Bank Board eventually decided to implement another design. While the obverse side of the medal presents a self-portrait of Karel Škréta, the reverse side features the face of St. Martin taken from a large-format altarpiece entitled "St. Martin shares his cloak with a beggar". The texts are artfully incorporated into the picture frames.

The issue run is only 99 units. Each medal is also hand-numbered on the edge.