Karel Javůrek (1815-1909) was a representative of the so-called historical genre, to which he devoted himself throughout his long life. His artistic opinion was formed before the middle of the 19th century, and from today’s point of view it seems overly illustrative. Javůrek was regarded as the patriarch of Czech historical painting, but his academically descriptive approach was increasingly at odds with the relaxed and colouristic salon-type painting that had penetrated the Czech lands, mainly from Paris, as well as with the gradual departure from historical themes. This representative painting, which recently surfaced in private ownership and was subsequently acquired for the collections of the West Bohemian Gallery in Pilsen, is presented within the format of a single Magnum Opus work. The artist painted it in 1890, and one year later it featured in the annual exhibition at the Rudolfinum in Prague. It depicts an important event in the history of the Přemyslid dynasty. Instigated by his cousin and the Czech king Vladislav II, Soběslav II was imprisoned for the second time in the castle of Přimda, from 1161 to 1173. After serving twelve years, he was released on direct order of the Roman emperor Friedrich Barbarossa and subsequently declared a Bohemian prince. Javůrek depicts the moment when, while still in prison, a group of liberators handed Soběslav II a cloak, a sword, and a cap as attributes of princely power.