Václav Bartovský
★1903 Prague +1961 Vůsí u Milevska
1915-1925
Studies at the Real Gymnasium in Prague, but does not graduate. Attends the private painting schools of Rudolf Vejrych and Jaroslav Poš. In the 1920s he makes his first contacts with the Prague art scene. A long-term friendship is established between Zdeněk Rykr and Václav Bartovský.
1928
First solo exhibition in the House of Artists in Prague (Krasoumná jednota).
1930s
Study trip to Paris where he becomes acquainted with modern French painting. He especially admires Henri Matisse and Pierre Bonnard. After returning to Prague, he studies painting techniques and becomes interested in cubism for a brief time as well as surrealism at the end of the 30s. Regularly contributes articles to the journal Zdroj on important personalities in Czech and world art, especially French painters.
1948
Becomes a member of Umělecká beseda. Here he meets Václav Boštík, Jindřich Chalupecký, and Jiří Kolář and becomes a recognized authority within the association. Jiří Kolář dedicates to him his poetry collection Master Sun on the Poetic Arts. Solo exhibition at the Topič Salon in Prague. Text of the catalog by Jindřich Chalupecký and Jiří Kolář. Contributes to the daily press as a critic and reviewer and works on a monograph of Bedřich Vaníček.
Beginning 1951 he leads art courses in Textile Design in Prague.
1958-1961
Becomes close with young artists (Jiří John, Adriena Šimotová, Stanislav Kolíbal, Vlasta Prachatická, Jiří Mrázek, Daisy Mrázková) in the loft II. of the Regional Center of the Union of Czechoslovak Graphic Artists, Umělecká beseda. Initiates the formation of the UB12 Group.
1960
A book by Jiří Padrta, Václav Bartovský, is published by the Publishing House of Czechoslovak Artists in Prague.
Based on biographical data of the members of UB12 up to 1970 in: SLAVICKÁ Milena. UB 12 - Studies, interviews, documents. Prague: Gallery in cooperation with Gema Art a o.s. OSVU, 2006, pp. 306-311
