An Open-Air Gallery
From Gothic Simplicity to Baroque Splendor
Originally, during the Gothic period, the Charles Bridge was not so richly adorned. Under the reign of Charles IV, it was decorated only with a simple cross, and later, during the time of George of Poděbrady, a few more sculptures were added.
The main collection of statues and statuaries, as we know it today, was primarily created during the Baroque period, specifically between 1683 and 1714.
Baroqueization as a Manifestation of Faith and Power
This transformation was part of a broader cultural and religious trend of Baroqueization in Prague and the Czech lands. After the Thirty Years' War and the consolidation of power by the Catholic Church and the Habsburg dynasty, art became a powerful tool for manifesting faith and representation.
The statues on the Charles Bridge, primarily depicting Catholic saints, martyrs, and patrons, were intended to strengthen the piety of the inhabitants and demonstrate the triumph of Catholicism.
Donors and the Transformation of the Bridge's Character
The financing of this costly decoration was provided by various donors – religious orders (e.g., Jesuits, Dominicans, Cistercians, Augustinians, Trinitarians), Prague University and its faculties, prominent noble families, and wealthy burghers. The addition of statues was thus not merely an aesthetic improvement but a profound transformation of the bridge's very character.
From its original Gothic, predominantly utilitarian and defensive structure, it became a Baroque "theatrum sacrum" – a sacred stage, a public space intended for the demonstration of piety and the celebration of saints, perfectly reflecting the religious and political climate of the era.
The Most Significant Works and Their Stories
Masterpieces of Czech Baroque
The sculptural decoration of the Charles Bridge represents a pinnacle of Czech Baroque sculpture. The most important artists of the time contributed to it, primarily Matthias Bernard Braun and sculptors from the workshop of Jan Brokoff and his sons, Ferdinand Maxmilian and Michal Jan Josef.
The iconographic diversity of the statues is remarkable – it reflects a wide spectrum of revered saints, patrons of various crafts, countries, or protectors against diseases and misfortune, which testifies to the effort to appeal to different strata of the population and professional groups.
Saint John of Nepomuk – The Most Famous Statue
This is probably the most famous statue on the bridge. It is the oldest preserved bronze statue, cast in Nuremberg by Wolfgang Hieronymus Heroldt based on a wooden model by Jan Brokoff in 1683.
St. John of Nepomuk, Vicar General of the Prague Archbishop, was, according to legend, tortured and thrown from the bridge into the Vltava River on the orders of King Wenceslas IV because he refused to reveal the queen's confessional secrets.
However, historians connect his death more with disputes between the church and the monarch over power and the appointment of church dignitaries. The five stars around the saint's head symbolize the Latin word "tacet" (he was silent) or, according to another version, they appeared above the Vltava's surface after his drowning.
The place from which he was allegedly thrown is marked on the bridge railing with a small cross and a relief. Touching this statue or relief is said to bring good luck.
The Calvary Statuary – A Central Christian Symbol
This is a central Christian symbol. A cross had stood on this site in various forms since the time of Charles IV. The current form of the statuary includes a monumental bronze cross (the body of Christ from 1629 by H. Hillger, the cross from 1657 by Wolf Ernst Brohn or Johann Georg Heermann) and sandstone statues of the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist on the sides, created by Emanuel Max in 1861.
Attention is also drawn to the gilded Hebrew inscription on the cross, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts," which was added to the cross in 1696 as a punishment for a certain Jew who was said to have blasphemed the cross.
The Dream of Saint Luitgardis – A Masterpiece by Matthias Bernard Braun
This dynamic and expressive statuary, created by Matthias Bernard Braun in 1710, is considered one of the highest quality and most artistically valuable works on the Charles Bridge. It depicts the mystical vision of the blind Cistercian nun Luitgardis, to whom the crucified Christ appears and bows down to her to exchange hearts.
Other Significant Works
Other significant works include Saint Ivo by Matthias Bernard Braun (1711), the patron saint of lawyers; Saint Francis Xavier by Ferdinand Maxmilian Brokoff (1711), a Jesuit missionary (the original statue collapsed and was replaced by a copy); and the Statue of Bruncvík by Ludvík Šimek (1884), following the tradition of Roland.
Copies and Originals
It is important to mention that most of the original Baroque statues have been replaced by copies over time to protect them from weathering and damage. The originals are now stored and exhibited in the Lapidarium of the National Museum at the Výstaviště exhibition grounds or in the Gorlice hall at Vyšehrad.
Selected Iconic Statues of the Charles Bridge
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Charles Bridge as the Heart of Prague and Part of the Royal Route
Symbolic Heart of the City
For centuries, the bridge has been perceived as the true heart of Prague, a place that connects not only the two banks of the Vltava, the Old Town and the Lesser Town, but symbolically also generations of people and their destinies.
A Key Part of the Royal Route
Its importance was amplified by the fact that it became a key part of the so-called Royal Route. This traditional route led from the Powder Gate through Celetná Street to Old Town Square, then along Karlova Street to Křižovnické Square and across the Charles Bridge.
From the Lesser Town Square, it then ascended Nerudova Street (originally Úvoz via Pohořelec, from the 17th century Ke Hradu Street) to Hradčanské Square and through Matthias Gate into the Prague Castle complex, culminating in St. Vitus Cathedral.
The Scene of Coronation Processions and Ceremonies
Coronation processions of Czech kings traveled along this route, from Albert II of Habsburg in 1438 to the last crowned Czech king, Ferdinand V the Good, in 1836.
Other significant state and church ceremonies also took place here, such as funeral processions of monarchs or the welcoming of important guests. The inclusion of the Charles Bridge in the Royal Route lent it an extraordinary sacred and state-building dimension.
Crossing the bridge became a ritual act, symbolizing the monarch's journey to power, his connection with the city, the country, and God. The bridge was thus not only a physical but also a deeply symbolic axis of royal Prague, a stage for history and a manifestation of sovereign power.
The Secrets of the Old Town Bridge Tower
A Representative Triumphal Arch
At the Old Town end of the Charles Bridge stands the Old Town Bridge Tower, one of the most impressive Gothic structures in Europe. It was conceived not only as a defensive element but primarily as a representative triumphal arch on the Royal Route, welcoming those entering the Old Town.
The tower, built by the Parler workshop approximately between 1370 and 1380, is itself a complex work of art with rich symbolism.
Iconographic Program of the Sculptural Decoration
Its sculptural decoration, especially on the eastern facade (facing the Old Town), is a carefully considered iconographic program. It is divided into three symbolic levels:
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Earthly Sphere: Symbolizes earthly life and human passions.
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Royal Sphere (Lunar): With figures of Saint Vitus, Charles IV, and Wenceslas IV, it symbolizes royal power and the protection of the land's patrons.
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Celestial Sphere (Stellar): With statues of other land patrons and the Madonna, it symbolizes heavenly protection and the spiritual dimension of rule.
Celebration of the Dynasty and the Hierarchy of the World
The entire sculptural decoration is conceived as a celebration of the Luxembourg dynasty, the interconnection of secular and ecclesiastical power, and reflects medieval ideas about the hierarchical order of the world.
It is a manifestation of power, faith, and Charles's vision of Prague. Some interpretations also point to cosmological symbolism. The Old Town Bridge Tower is thus not merely a gate, but a complex symbol.
The Bridge as a Muse for Painters and Writers
The Charles Bridge has become one of the most frequently depicted motifs of Prague in both Czech and world painting. Its silhouette with Hradčany in the background has been captured by many significant artists, such as the expressionist Oskar Kokoschka, Karel Černý, graphic artist Karel Beneš, and Oldřich Šebor.
Legacy in Literature
The Charles Bridge has also left a deep mark on literature. It has become the setting for novels, the subject of poems and essays. There are numerous publications dedicated to the bridge, for example, the book "Karlův most" (Charles Bridge) by Stanislav Přibyl or "Tajemství Karlova mostu" (The Secret of the Charles Bridge) and other scholarly publications.
Inspiration
The fact that the bridge is constantly depicted, described, and brought to life by art testifies to its deep rootedness in cultural identity and its extraordinary ability to resonate with different generations.