Josef Šantrůček

The architect, painter and draughtsman Josef Šantrůček is one of the almost forgotten regional contributors to the Luže and Vysoké Mýto regions.

From 1916 to 1917, he attended building-trade courses in Pardubice at the Elementary Technical College and subsequently, underwent practical training with several building design offices. In was not until 1931 that he started to work independently, when he set up his own building design company in Nové Hrady, whose headquarters were later based, in 1936, in Luže. He designed significant public buildings whose architectonic concepts were restrained, drew on local construction traditions yet featured modern elements – above all, the frequent application of exposed engineering brickwork. Šantrůček applied his own distinctive style to the Polánka tourist chalet in Nové Hrady, the main feature being the unusual timber-frame motif on the facade (destroyed in a fire in 1999).

Šantůrek made a name for himself in the art world with his still-life work and, predominantly, with his landscape paintings featuring motifs from the Pardubice, Vysoké Mýto and Chrudim regions. Not only did he capture artistic monuments and countryside landmarks (e.g. Košumberk Castle, Church of Our Lady Help of Christians at Chlumek, Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary in Janovčky near Luže), but also forest scenes and a range of minor architectural monuments, especially rural cottages. He was proficient in various art techniques, including sgraffito and painting on glass. However, his prevailing techniques were aquarelle, pen and ink, and oil painting.
 

1930s
Citizens' bank
Komenského 286, 538 54 Luže

1930s (?)
Tourist chalet Polánka
Nové Hrady 107, 539 45 Nové Hrady

1961
Sgraffito decoration of the Local National Committee building in Luže (removed)
Plk. Josefa Koukala Square 1, 538 54 Luže