In 1791 a vast outdoor exhibition took place in Prague to mark the coronation as King of Bohemia of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II. The celebrations included the first performance of what was to be Mozart’s penultimate opera, La Clemenza di Tito. Its story, of an emperor who shows mercy even to those who plot against him, was no doubt intended to appeal to a ruler who had already pursued peace in Europe with considerable intelligence and skill. The century following Leopold’s death was dominated by a period of enlightenment and increasing industrialization, during which Bohemia witnessed a sea-change in the form of the Czech National Revival. Although still technically part of Austro-Hungary, the Czechs under the Revivalists laid claim to their own history, culture and most importantly their original language. All of this was reflected in the 1891 centenary exhibition, this time held in a purpose-built ‘crystal palace’ at Holešovice, in the loop of the river Vltava. ...