Central European School, late 19th century- Portrait of Jan Amos Comenius, seated half-length, holding a copy of 'Labyrinth of the World and Paradise of the Heart'; oil on canvas, bears stamp for 'W. KOLLER & CO' verso, 78.8 x 63.2 cm. Provenance: Property from a European Private Collection. Note: The present work depicts the Moravian pedagogue, philosopher, and theologian Jan Amos Comenius (1592-1670), whose promotion of universal education proved hugely influential for generations to follow. In the present work, Comenius is depicted holding his 'Labyrinth of the World and Paradise of the Heart', the first version of which he completed in 1623, and which has gone on to become one of the most popular works of classic Czech writing.

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