St. Francis Xavier sculptural group on Charles Bridge / Sousoší Sv. Františka Xaverského na Karlove moste (Prague)
N 50° 05.184 E 014° 24.687
33U E 457896 N 5548402
Depicted Baroque sculptural group of St. Francis Xavier (Sv. František Xaverský) is one of 31 historic statues (...or groups) decorating famous Gothic Charles Bridge (Karluv most) in Prague' centre.
Waymark Code: WMNG87
Location: Hlavní město Praha, Czechia
Date Posted: 03/10/2015
Views: 57
Depicted Baroque sculptural group of St. Francis Xavier (Sv. František Xaverský) is one of 31 historic statues (...or groups) decorating famous Gothic Charles Bridge (Karluv most) in Prague' centre.
What makes Charles Bridge a top tourist attraction is the open air sculptural gallery which adorns it. It was created much later than the actual bridge construction, mostly in 1706-1714 in the expectation of the canonisation of John of Nepomuk (Jan Nepomucký). Despite the partial changes the gallery has undergone since its creation, it is still a great reflection of the history of the Czech lands - there are 31 statues and groups of statues in all on the bridge today with approximately 100 figures, among them also prime works of the great men of central European sculpture Matthias B. Braun and Ferdinand M. Brokoff. Since 1965 the precious originals of the statues have been gradually replaced by replicas. In extent and quality this bridge gallery has no equal in Europe.
Sculptural group of St. Francis Xavier is the 5th one on the left looking from the Old Town Bridge Tower. The Horice sandstone sculptural group, work of Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff (1711-1712), was donated by the Theology and Philosophy Faculty of the Prague University. In the lower part of the statuary, there is a group of exotic princes (Chinese, Tatar, Moor and Hindu) baptized by St. Francis Xavier. In the upper part, there is the saint raising a cross in front of the kneeling Hindu prince with pages and reminding the prince about the importance of faith before his baptism. The Latin inscription says Donated by the Theology Faculty and the Philosophy Faculty of the Prague University in 1711 in memory of Francis Xavier from the Society of Jesus, an apostle of Hindus and Japanese and a beloved of God. The composition and make of the statuary is one of the best on the bridge and is considered one of the best statues of the sculptor, even though he was only 23 years old when he created it. The face of the boy below the saint’s hand with a cross is actually the face of the young sculptor.