TECHNICAL PROCESS OF PAINTING

Mucha used ship sails imported from Brussels for the Slav Epic, which he had to adapt due to World War I so that the canvases would be sufficient for all 20 motives. He divided them into three approximate sizes: 8x6, 6x4, and 5x4 meters. The background was painted in tempera bound with egg yolk, and the details were executed in oil. The process of sketching the composition was divided into several phases, beginning with a small format pencil sketch, which he later enlarged in color, and only then traced onto translucent paper, which served as a perforated template. In his work, he used six-meter scaffolding, auxiliary ladders, and steps, on which he spent 8-10 hours daily.