Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Religious statue on Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic

The statue of Nicholas of Tolentino is an outdoor sculpture by Jeroným Kohl, installed on the south side of the Charles Bridge in Prague. It depicts the saint in religious vestments with a small figure carrying bread at his feet.

The original was commissioned and created in 1708 by sculptor Jeroným Kohl, funded by the Augustinian monastery of Saint Thomas in Prague's Lesser Town. After roughly 260 years of weathering, the heavily damaged statue was replaced in 1969 with a new copy by Jan Jiříkovský.

The statue shows Saint Nicholas of Tolentino in a series of about 30 religious sculptures that line the Charles Bridge and shape the character of the place. The saint is venerated here as a protector of the poor and those in need of help.

The statue stands on the south side of the Charles Bridge, in the open pedestrian space between the bridge's statues, and can be viewed at any hour without a ticket. The bridge is narrow and fills with walkers from mid-morning onward, so crossing early or in the evening leaves room to stop and look.

The statue is one of the bridge's works by Jeroným Kohl, who carved it in 1708; the original was later replaced by a copy by Jan Jiříkovský in 1969. Look for the small companion figure at the saint's feet, a detail that sets this sculpture apart from its neighbours.