Rastislav Michal was born on 9th June 1936 in Teplice – Šanov (Czech Republic). The background of the family in which he grew up has formed his childhood and youth and later his entire journey through his life. It was his mother, a writer and poet known under the pseudonym Renata Horalová belonging to the late circle of the “Modern Revue” who influenced him to a large extent. Due to the Nazi occupation of the Czech border area in 1938 the family left Teplice and settled permanently in Prague. The flat in the house at the river bank opposite the National Theatre was nice, sunny, in the centre of the town and tastefully furnished. Michals’ “saloon” was frequented by distinguished guests who always enjoyed visiting there. For example Jarmil Krecar, the librarian of the National Museum, friend of V. H. Brunner and author of publications on the art of books, essays on literature and works of art; Jiří Karásek ze Lvovic (of Lvovice), František Kobliha, Jan Opolský, Alois Hába, Emerich Alois Hruška, Josef Bohuslav Foerster (he set poems by R. Horalová to music), Jaroslav Seifert and others.

Michal‘s Collection Gallery