After completing his secondary education at Loket, Pirner continued his studies at the Aca- demy of Fine Arts in Prague (1872−1874) and at the Vienna Academy. He subsequently returned to the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague in 1896 as professor and lecturer. A large number of leading painters and art teachers worked in his studio of figure painting, including Max Švabinský, Jakub Obrovský and Vratislav Nechleba. Pirner proved to be a very gifted painter and illustrator. At the beginning of his remarkable career he illustrated the Czech translation of Heinrich Heine’s Book of Songs. Gradually painting on allegorical and poetic themes became predominant in his oeuvre. Not only did he have an excellent painting technique, his treatment of colour also attracted attention.