Vices in Kuks, Baroque statues in Kuks, Czech Republic
Vices in Kuks is a series of baroque stone sculptures along the northern facade of the hospital complex in Kuks, Czech Republic. The twenty-four figures stand in two parallel rows and show allegorical representations of human qualities.
Count Franz Anton von Sporck commissioned sculptor Matthias Braun between 1718 and 1720 to create these allegorical figures. The sculptures came about as part of the larger spa and hospital ensemble that Sporck built on his estate.
The stone figures carry their meaning through small objects they hold or keep with them. On one side of the building facade appear human weaknesses such as Greed and Envy, while across from them stand virtues such as Faith and Hope.
The sculptures are freely accessible and can be viewed during a walk through the hospital complex. Details of the figures are best seen in daylight when walking directly along the facade.
Each figure carries specific attributes that reveal its meaning, such as Justice wearing a blindfold or Temperance holding a measuring cup. The arrangement of the statues creates a dialogue between good and bad human qualities across the path.
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