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Background: (Sgraffito a design made by cutting away a coloured surface to reveal a different colour beneath. Italian technique used to ornate facades of Renessaince buildings, sometimes indoor walls. Translator)
On the embankment of the Vitava-river, right over one of Prague's most picturesque weirs there stands one of its most attractive buildings, the Bedrich Smetana museum.

Since his facade due to the influence of air moisture had been rather disintegrating during the last years, masons and stucco-artists had to come to restore it to its former beauty. The second floor for the time being has been changed into the makeshift workshop of two artists, the painters J. Toron and J. Josefik. From copies of Mikolas Ales's, the famous Czech painter's, designs, these two artists in Sgraffito techniques (see above) are transferring his paintings on the walls. These paintings represent the portraits of members of the Czech nobility who took part in the battle against the Swedish which was fought on nearby Charles bridge.

After thirty months of busy work this job is approaching its and. By the beginning of next month spider-man will take down the scaffolding covering the facade of the Smetana museum to reveal the building in its old and reborn beauty.