In Prague I did not meet a sphinx sculpture in the street. But I did notice a huge announcement for the exhibition of the Belgium Symbolist Jean Delville in the City Gallery and recognized the sphinx right away. It actually depicted a poster that Delville made in 1892, to promote the ‘Salon pour l’art’in Brussels. He was co-founder of this new Belgium group that, beside the other avant-garde groups ‘Les XX’ and ‘La Libre Esthétique’ was active in Belgium to introduce new art.* This affiche was of course part of the show.
Delville, Jean, ‘Salon pour l’Art’ 1892, affiche color lithograph, Letterenhuis Antwerp
The exhibition contained a lot of works from private collections displayed in the beautiful House at the Stone Bell. It had clear themes (starting from Realism) and in each room work from Czech artists is added.
Click here for the website about the exhibition
* Cole, Brendan, ‘Jean Delville and the Belgium Avant-Garde’ in: The Symbolist Movement: Its Origins and Its Consequences. (Cambridge Scholars Publishing) Newcastle upon Tyne 2010, pp.129-146.