Statues - Hither & Thither

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Praha
Hlavní mĕsto

Radnické schody, Hradčany

Svatí Jan Nepomucký a Josef

Saints John of Nepomuk and Joseph

Jan Brokoff
1709

Description

Two stone statues.

Sv. Jan Nepomucký / St. John of Nepomuk, with two angels, one indicating silence by a finger over the lips, and the other with a drawing of the Charles Bridge.
(Nepomuk c. 1345 - Praha 1393), confessor of the queen of Bohemia, refused to divulge the secrets of the confessional. At the behest of King Wenceslaus of Bohemia he was thrown from the Charles Bridge in Prague and drowned. John of Nepomuk is patron saint of bridges (Wikipedia)
Sv. Josef / St. Joseph, with the Infant Jesus.
the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ (in distinction to God, his "heavenly father") (Wikipedia).

Click for larger photo in separate window

Sv. Jan Nepomucký
St. John of Nepomuk

Sv. Josef
St. Joseph

Signature

St. John of Nepomuk: ioan. brokoff fecit

Annotation

The sculptor of the statue of St. Joseph is not known, sometimes the authorship is ascribed to F. J. Santini, sometimes to a member of O. Most's workshop. The statues were originally located on Hradčany Square in front of the Schwarzenberg Palace.

Artist

Jan Brokoff, also known as Johann Brokoff (Spišská Sobota, Slovakia 1652 - Praha 1718), baroque-era sculptor and carver of German origin; father of Michael Brokoff and Ferdinand Brokoff (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Královská cesta, Prague Castle.
Kateřina Adamcová, (Ne)rozluční společníci. Polozapomenuté ikonografické i urbanistické souvislosti vybraných sochařských děl věnovaných sv. Janu Nepomuckému v Praze ((In)separable companions. Half-forgotten iconographic and urban planning contexts of selected sculptures dedicated to St John of Nepomuk in Prague). AUC Philosophica Et Historica 2020(2): 61-86 (PDF Online, Researchgate).

Location (N 50°5'19" - E 14°23'47") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: czpr036; Photograph: 18 February 2011
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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