Saint Francis Xavier, Religious statue on Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic
Saint Francis Xavier is a sandstone sculpture on Charles Bridge that portrays the saint standing with four figures at its base representing different peoples and cultures. The monument stands approximately 13 feet (4 meters) tall and occupies a space on the bridge as part of its historic collection of religious and allegorical statues.
Ferdinand Brokoff created this statue in 1711 to honor Saint Francis Xavier, a Jesuit missionary who worked extensively in Asia during the 16th century. The work was completed during a period of significant artistic embellishment on Charles Bridge and represents one of the bridge's important religious monuments.
The sculpture at its base depicts a scene of religious conversion with a kneeling pagan ruler and a figure holding a baptismal shell. This representation symbolizes the spread of Christian faith to distant lands and reflects the religious fervor that characterizes the artworks on Charles Bridge.
The sculpture stands on the southern side of Charles Bridge and can be easily located as it occupies a prominent position along the bridge's path. Since it is an outdoor monument, it is accessible at any time during your walk across the bridge connecting the castle district to the old town.
The base of the monument features four distinct allegorical figures representing a Tartar with dual swords, a Moorish figure, a Chinese character, and an Indian presence. This composition visually expresses the global reach and impact of the missionary work that the Baroque sculpture commemorates.
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