Good evening. Here is the Wednesday, July 23 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in a few minutes.
Italian expert examines Renaissance bust
A marble bust believed to depict Cecilia Gonzaga is thought to be the work of Renaissance master Donatello.
In mid-July, more than a month after the quiet and controversial removal of a Renaissance bust—believed to be the work of Donatello—from the Spiš Museum in Levoča, respected Neapolitan professor Francesco Caglioti travelled to Slovakia to study it.
Caglioti confirmed his visit in an email to the daily Sme. He is an internationally recognised expert on sculpture and Donatello, and curated an acclaimed exhibition dedicated to the artist.
“I personally examined the bust in Slovakia in great detail and with great care exactly ten days ago [the article was published on July 22 – Ed. note] and took numerous photographs,” he wrote.
“I have committed to submitting a very detailed report to the [Culture] Ministry by the end of August,” Caglioti said, adding that, having already documented the bust thoroughly, he does not expect to return, nor does he anticipate the bust being transported to Italy.
The contents of the report remain unknown, but Caglioti indicated he is expected to address the assumption that the bust is an original work by Donatello, as it bears the inscription Opus Donatelli, Latin for "work by Donatello". He declined to reveal any preliminary conclusions.
“My methods are based on knowledge acquired from comparing thousands upon thousands of works of art, which I have been studying tirelessly for at least 40 years. In fact, I could say 50, as this passion began at a young age,” Caglioti said.
Caglioti is known to be sceptical about the bust’s authenticity—an opinion he has voiced on several occasions. His 2021 essay, in which he suggested the bust might be a modern forgery, was recently cited by The Art Newspaper. He then told the publication that he would welcome the opportunity to examine the work in person to verify his view.
“We know of no individual portrait busts by Donatello—certainly not signed ones. The number of works Donatello actually signed is very small compared to the total attributed to him,” Caglioti told the website.
What Slovak art historian says: Marta Herucová, who has studied the bust extensively, remains confident in her findings. In an interview with the daily Denník N, she said that collaboration had been established with the Cathedral Museum in Florence—which holds the largest collection of Donatello’s works—and that the experts there were immediately convinced of the bust’s authenticity. “They were certain it was an original Donatello,” she said.
Back to public: Regardless of the report’s outcome, the bust will be made available to the public, according to a statement from the Culture Ministry, which also confirmed that Caglioti visited Slovakia from July 10–12. The ministry added that it does not intend to seek any further expert opinion beyond that of Professor Caglioti.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
NO CALAMITY YET: In previous years, mosquito infestations in Bratislava and the Záhorie region were so severe that even top politicians took notice. The usual nuisance has suddenly disappeared this time.
CAREER: Fewer people are satisfied with their salaries and other notable trends observed in the Slovak labour market over the past year.
ROYALTY: See a handcrafted replica of the legendary Crown of Saint Stephen, once used to crown monarchs in St Martin’s Cathedral.
BUSINESS: After years of prosperity, Slovakia’s IT professionals are having challenging times. The growth during the pandemic has slowed down, leading to a reduced number of new job openings.
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SLOVAKS ABROAD
Getting closer to family because of citizenship
Jen Shevock. (source: Archive of J. S.)
While sorting through family documents and photographs, American citizen Jennifer Shevock discovered that Slovakia had amended its citizenship-by-descent law in 2022.
“When I read that, I was thrilled—so happy. It hit me that, wow, we could actually do this, that we qualified,” she told The Slovak Spectator. She immediately called her brother, and they agreed to pursue Slovak citizenship together. In the process, the siblings have grown even closer.
EVENT FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS
Festival od DIY theatre and dance
The Stanica Žilina-Záriečie community centre is one of the venues where the festival will be held. (source: TASR)
Over the next few days, the town of Žilina in northern Slovakia will host an unconventional festival. Known as Kiosk, this theatre and dance festival has a reputation for thinking outside the box—or perhaps outside the venue. For example, on Friday, the event will move to a small village near Žilina, where performances and concerts will take place in unexpected locations such as a football pitch, a local tavern, and the village hall.
In light of ongoing global challenges—and the situation in Slovakia’s cultural sector, where many projects have faced funding cuts or reduced support—the theme of the 18th edition is DIY. The festival aims to showcase a “creative strategy based on self-sufficiency, sustainability, and the discovery of new approaches.” Find out more here.
IN OTHER NEWS
After eight years, Canadian Craig Ramsay’s tenure as head coach of Slovakia’s national ice hockey team has come to an end. He has been succeeded by Vladimír Országh, who already stepped in during the most recent World Championship due to Ramsay’s health issues. Ramsay coached a record 150 matches for the national team, with the bronze medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics standing out as his greatest achievement. However, he is expected to remain involved with the team in some capacity, though details have yet to be confirmed. (Sportnet)
Police are warning the public about fraudsters posing as police investigators and employees of the National Bank of Slovakia. Claiming to protect people’s finances, the scammers have already stolen several thousand euros from victims. Since July 10, police in the Bratislava Region have recorded 26 such cases—four of which were successful. The authorities urge the public never to hand over money to strangers who call claiming to represent the police, banks, or government institutions. Police officers will never ask citizens to send or deliver money or valuables. (Bratislava Regional Police – Facebook)
Slovakia has joined 25 countries and the European Commission in calling for an immediate end to the war in the Gaza Strip. According to the Foreign Ministry, the signatories condemned the “inhumane killing of civilians” and the continued holding of hostages. The countries criticised Israel for blocking humanitarian aid to Palestinians and described its method of aid distribution as dangerous, destabilising, and stripping local residents of their human dignity.
The Kamenná chata pod Chopkom mountain hut in the Low Tatras on July 22. Located at an altitude of 1,985 metres below the Chopok peak, it is the third highest hut in Slovakia after the Chata pod Rysmi and Téryho Chata in the High Tatras. (source: TASR)
A new feature film by director Tereza Nvotová, co-produced by Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland, will be screened at this year’s Venice Film Festival, running from August 27 to September 6. The film tells the story of a father who leaves his daughter in a car on a hot summer day, resulting in a tragic incident. It will be shown in the Orizzonti section, which highlights contemporary trends and emerging talents in cinema. The film is set to premiere in Slovak cinemas on September 11. (TASR)
A fire that swept through part of the Roma settlement in Spišský Štiavnik, eastern Slovakia, on Tuesday caused an estimated €350,000 in damages and left more than 140 people without a home, according to the Fire and Rescue Service. Police have launched an investigation. (TASR)
The Education Policy Institute (IVP) has warned that Slovakia is experiencing a record-level brain drain, placing it among the worst-affected countries not just in Europe, but globally as well. While only 4 percent of students from OECD countries and 5.2 percent of students from EU member states study abroad, nearly 20 percent of Slovak students were doing so in 2024. According to the institute, this trend is continuing to rise, with an increasing number of young Slovaks choosing to pursue higher education abroad—most commonly in Czechia, followed by the United Kingdom and Hungary. (SITA)
David Strelec (Slovan, in the middle) is about to score the second goal of his team. Slovan Bratislava won 4-0 over Zrinjski Mostar in the first leg of the Champions League qualification. (source: TASR)
WEATHER FOR THURSDAY: Cloud cover will increase throughout the day, with occasional rain or thunderstorms expected in some areas. Daytime temperatures will reach between 27°C and 34°C, or up to 25°C in the northwest. A Level 1 storm warning has been issued for parts of western, central, and eastern Slovakia, along with a level 1 high-temperature warning for southern districts. (SHMÚ)
JULY 24 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Vladimír
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