Mikol� Ale� (18. 11. 1852 - 10. 7. 1913) - Czech painter and illustrator of the 19th century. The focus of his work was Czech history, about which awareness created together with writer Alois Jirasek. Apart from book illustrations and paintings of paintings, Alex also discusses architectural design of facades and interiors of houses.

Mikol� Ale� was born in Mirotice South Bohemian town scribe in the family of Francis Ales. The drawing appeared keen interest since the age of four, so no one was surprised when after school studies in Pisek enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague (1869). Shortly after that, his father died, so he had to earn a living solely on their own. He contributed to magazines and newspapers, the extra money teaching drawing, creating designs for murals (cardboard, the first of which was titled Bohemia in the glory ). In 1876 he joined the student protests against the views of the German professor Alfred Woltmann, who in a lecture denied the existence of the independent Czech art. To participate in the demonstration of a stormy Mikol� Ale� sat out four days in jail and had to leave school. Talented youngster took sponsor of Czech artists Alexandr Brandeis, whose farm in Suchdole Ale� formed several years. Now there arose in 1878, the famous canvas Meeting George of Pod�brad with Matthias Corvinus . A year later he won the competition to decorate the foyer of the National Theatre, to which he applied together with Franti�ek �en�ek. Ale� prepared the draft of fourteen lunettes and four wall fields �en�ek helped with the transfer of drawings to actual size. The final color lunettes jury eventually confided just �en�ek and other painters, which rightfully Al�e very touched.

Mikol� Ale� was frequently targeted by contemporary critics alike, with the general public but reaped success. In 1883 he illustrated �elakovsk�ho Testimonials Russian songs , later added another significant illustration accompaniments Czech authors such as, for example, Alois Jirasek or Karel V�clav Rais.

Less known is Al�ova cooperation with architects in the decoration of facades and interiors. Among his most impressive works are the decoration of the lobby Prague's Old Town Hall and the Hall of today's Trade Bank. Mikol� Ale� is rightly called the national painter. He was buried at Vysehrad.