About Us

The story of the book

The book project was conceived in 2023 by Suzanna (Zuzana) Halsey, who first learned about the Bauer brothers from Přemysl Krejčiřík, the director of the Lu & Tiree Chmelar Herb Garden in Valtice, where artist Zdeňka Žďárská Benešová led a program called Painting with the Bauers. Since no Czech book about the Bauers existed, Suzanna and Zdeňka decided to create one. The goal was to "rediscover" the Bauers' legacy and inspire young people's interest in science and art. 

The team

Zdeňka invited her former students from the ZUŠ Mikulov art school — Anastasia and Maria Komarova, and Klára and Veronika Kružíková — to form a "dream team." Under her guidance and after two years of intensive work and research trips to museums and archives, they produced not only beautiful illustrations but also a unique publication with original texts.

Editor-in-Chief

Zdeňka Žďárská Benešová – Artist and graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, she teaches at the ZUŠ art school in Mikulov. She developed the book's concept, led the creative team, and contributed additional watercolor and pen illustrations.

Writers and Illustrators

Anastasia Komarova (*2005) – Studies Art History at Masaryk University in Brno. and plans a career in book illustration or art history. In the book, she focused on Ferdinand Bauer, working with watercolor and linocut. Her stylized portraits of historical figures reflect a deep study of the Bauers' work.

Maria Komarova (*2005) – Studies Animation at Tomáš Bata University in Zlín. She enjoys drawing, painting, graphic design, and animation. In the book, she applied her realistic style and nuanced use of color to her illustrations, portraying Franz Bauer's life and incorporating digital comics that documented the team's visits to view the original works of the Bauers. Her blend of photography and drawing offers a fresh take on a historical theme.

Klára Anna Kružíková (*2005) – Studies Education at Masaryk University in Brno. She is interested in dance, music, creative writing, photography, and visual arts. She was primarily responsible for the book's texts. Her color pencil drawing of a globe with a small boat evokes the unknown world of the 18th century. Her large-format piece, showing Prior Norbert Boccius handing the Liechtenstein Codex to Prince Alois I, combines watercolor and pastel techniques.

Veronika Kružíková (*2009) – A high school student in Břeclav, she is passionate about music, visual arts, and crafts. She enjoys traveling and exploring the world. In the book, she focused on Joseph Bauer and depicted the brothers' childhood through colored drawings and monochromatic watercolors.

Expert Consultant

Dr. H. Walter Lack – Former director of the Berlin Botanical Garden and author of a seminal work on the Bauer brothers. He served as mentor and expert advisor to the project and wrote the foreword.

Administrator- PR

Suzanna Halsey – Administrator of the Friends of Czech Greenways Foundation, she conceived the project and collaborated as producer, administrator, translator, and PR coordinator.