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During the reign of Charles IV (king of Bohemia from 1346, emperor 1355--78) Prague was effectively a fixed capital of the German Empire. The foundation stone for the St. Vitus's Cathedral was laid in 1344. The first architect was Mathieu d'Arras (1290-1352) who designed the ground plan for the choir and built part of the ambulatory and the radiating chapels. After his death the young Peter Parler (1330-1399) introduced truly modern architecture into the construction.
The triforium and clerestory were erected between 1374 and 1383. The triforium has been provided with a parapet filled with tracery. The front plane of the triforium is linked to the clerestory wall plane by means of small glazed arches. A gallery of portrait busts is set up in the triforium. Some idealized, others realistic, they include the emperor and his family, archbishops, even the architects Mathieu d'Arras and Peter Parler. This last is significant because it indicates the high social standing of the architects.
The photo shows the triforium with portrait busts.
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