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Praha
Hlavní mĕsto Dušní, Staré Město
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Svatý Jan Nepomucký jako almužníkSt John of Nepomuk as an almsgiverNepomuk c. 1345 - Praha 1393confessor of the queen of Bohemia; patron saint of bridges (Wikipedia) |
Ferdinand Brokoff
1727 |
Sandstone sculpture of Saint John of Nepomuk as a chaplain. It is a highly unusual depiction of the saint.. He is not shown with the customary cross and five stars, but as a clergyman giving alms to a kneeling beggar.
On a tall plinth featuring relief scenes and dated 1727, there originally stood a different statue of St. John of Nepomuk, depicting his apotheosis, kneeling with outstretched arms on a cloud-like mound, accompanied by a pair of putti with attributes at his feet. As suggested by the Latin chronogram on the front of the plinth and the now barely legible motifs of the relief scenes depicting the saint’s martyrdom, the discovery of his body and its transfer to St Cyril’s Church, the sculpture was intended primarily as a commemoration of the role of the Order of St Cyriacus in preserving his remains, which became a fervently venerated relic during the 17th century.
 Martyrdom |
 Discovery of his body |
 Transfer to St Cyril’s Church |
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honorI beatI IoanIs nepoMVcenI apVD nos post fata sVa gLorIose sepVLtI |
In honour of Blessed John of Nepomuk, who after his death was honourably buried among us. |
As confessor of the queen of Bohemia he 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.
His figure is often encountered in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, Poland and Lithuania. He is usually portrayed with a halo of five stars, commemorating the stars that hovered over the Vltava River on the night of his murder, also is said that the five stars are supposed to symbolize the five letters of Latin word "tacet", which means "silent".
Other attributes are a priestly dress, the palm of martyrs and a large crucifix, to which he is usually looking.
As additional figures there are often one of more little angels, respectively indicating silence by a finger over the lips, with a crucifix and with the bible.
There are several sites listing statues of Saint John of Nepomuk:
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