Saint Anthony of Padua, Religious statue on Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic
The Saint Anthony of Padua statue is a sandstone figure on Charles Bridge depicting a young monk in religious robes holding the infant Jesus resting on an open book. The sculpture occupies one of many places in this bridge gallery that connects the city's historic districts.
Sculptor Jan Oldrich Mayer created this figure in 1707 on commission from a Prague city councillor named Krystof Moric Wittauer. This artwork arrived during a period when Charles Bridge was being filled with such religious sculptures.
Relief panels depicting scenes from Saint Anthony's life adorn the bridge parapet near this statue. These carvings reflect the Catholic practices of early 18th century Prague and offer visitors glimpses into religious stories through visual storytelling.
The statue sits on the north side of Charles Bridge where it remains accessible year-round as part of the open-air bridge gallery. Visitors can examine it while crossing or pause to study the carved details around it.
The original design showed the saint holding a lily flower in his right hand, a symbol commonly linked to this holy figure. Historical images capture this floral detail in ways the current sculpture expresses through its different arrangement and focus.
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