Emil Kotrba

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameEmil•Kotrba
Used nameEmil•Kotrba
Born22 February 1912 in Znojmo, Jihomoravský kraj (CZE)
Died21 February 1983 in Praha (Prague), Hlavní město Praha (CZE)
NOC Czechoslovakia

Biography

Czechoslovakian painter Emil Kotrba studied graphics, painting and drawing in Brno and Praha. From 1937-42 he taught drawing at the Atelier Rotter, a private school for applied arts. Later he was a freelance artist and became one of the most famous painters of horse scenes. In the 1960s and 1970s he was considered as the world’s best known horse painter, and received orders from the Spanish Riding School in Wien. Kotrba was also a graphic artist and illustrator, illustrating books and designing bookplates and stamps. His graphics are distinguished by their mature drawing, creative curtness and the partially grotesque humor. His most important patron was 1932 Olympian Max Švabinský.

Kotrba was himself an active rider, trainer and judge of riding competitions and had contact with numerous stud farms. Probably his two works for the 1948 Art Competitions were paintings, showing feats of the Spanish Riding School. The well-known drawings of the same titles may have been studies for the paintings, a working method that Kotrba used several times.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Art Competitions TCH Emil Kotrba
Painting, Paintings, Open (Olympic) AC
Painting, Paintings, Open (Olympic) AC