It was not only due to endowments, but also purchases and inheritances that the gradually growing collection of paintings, sculpture and statues grew into what it is today. As a result Prague’s very own gallery was established alongside the existing National Gallery. The City Gallery can not be compared with the scale and breadth of the National Gallery, but it does come very close in terms of the production of uniquely refreshing projects that offer a vital perspective on different eras in Czech art history.
Some might argue that a gallery is something like a warehouse where they occasionally wipe off layers of dust settled on stored art treasures. However, here, the opposite is true; artworks are preserved here for a reason, some of them are displayed in public areas of City Halls. Another function is the conservation of public sculptures, statues and listed buildings. There are quite a few of them under the gallery’s umbrella and almost all of them are unique objects such as: Bílek‘s Villa, The House U Kamenného zvonu, Bílek‘s House in Chýnov, Trojský Castle and The House U Zlatého prstenu.
The gallery’s essential role in conservation and publication activities should not be underestimated. For academic research, a gallery is an invaluable source of information. What may be of passing interest to a casual visitor is often, for academics, an incredibly exciting field of study. Praguers can appreciate the gallery for its learning and leisure activities such as: publications, talks and workshops for children and young people. They add to and improve the quality of life in the city. City galleries are an integral part of every truly important international cities; Prague can be proud that it has such a great gallery in under constant development.