Milan Knobloch was a Czech sculptor and medallist who was born in Vinohrady, Prague in 1921. His parents were from the village of Rodov, which is now part of the town of Smiřice in the Hradec Králové district. When he was a child, his family was sent to Yugoslavia for his father's work, where he spent the first six years of his life. Knobloch developed an interest in modelling during his studies at gymnasium and business academy, which eventually turned into a passion for painting. His parents supported his artistic development from an early age.
During World War II, universities were closed, and Knobloch was unable to further his studies. He worked briefly at the Zemská banka before becoming an accountant at Karlín Metal Works. Later, he was employed by the Nazi authorities at the Letov aircraft factory in Prague-Letňany, but his deportation to forced labour in Germany was prevented by his illness.
After the war, Knobloch attempted to enroll in the Academy of Fine Arts but was unsuccessful until his third attempt. He graduated from the Academy in 1953, having studied under Professor Jan Lauda and later, Professor Otakar Španiel. Španiel's teaching had a significant influence on Knobloch's later work. Knobloch's artworks are represented in numerous museums and galleries worldwide, including the National Gallery in Prague and the British Museum in London.
Knobloch was particularly skilled in medallion making, and his portrait medals of William Shakespeare and Aleš Hrdlička received critical acclaim. He also produced commemorative coins and created monuments, memorial plaques, and busts of important historical figures. In 1964, he received the Order of Merit for Culture from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Poland, and in 1980, he was named Meritorious Artist.