Saint Francis Borgia, Memorial statue on Charles Bridge, Czech Republic
Saint Francis Borgia is a memorial statue on Charles Bridge depicting the saint with two attending angels. One angel holds a relief of the Madonna and Child, while the other displays a medallion featuring a monstrance.
Ferdinand Maxmilian Brokoff created the original work in 1709 at the commission of Francis of Collet, the imperial palgrave and rentmaster of Vienna's New Town. It became one of the religious sculptures adorning the bridge crossing the Vltava River.
The sculpture displays religious symbolism through a naturalistic skull at its base, which in Catholic tradition represents the fleeting nature of earthly existence. This imagery invites visitors to reflect on the spiritual message conveyed at this location.
The memorial stands on the south side of Charles Bridge among around thirty other religious artworks. Visitors can easily locate it while crossing the bridge by observing the south-facing sculptures.
In 2017, sculptor Jiri Kacer produced an exact replica of the original work, which now stands in the same location. This modern reconstruction periodically replaces the original to ensure its preservation.
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