Charles VI Memorial in Hlavenec, Baroque memorial in Hlavenec, Czech Republic
The Charles VI Memorial in Hlavenec is a sandstone monument 10 m tall, 5.5 m wide and 5.5 m deep, built in 1724–1725 by sculptor Matyáš Bernard Braun to a design by František Maxmilián Kaňka. A hexagonal stone base carries a three-sided canopy with concave sides, three Roman-Doric columns and a billowing cloth with small angels. Reliefs in cartouches show hunting motifs, and a life-size statue of Charles VI in antique dress stands on its own hexagonal pedestal beneath a scene of Saint Hubert's vision with a stag, a horse and hounds.
Count František Antonín Špork had the memorial built where, on 2 November 1723, he presented Charles VI with the insignia of the Order of St Hubert during a ceremonial hunt, hoping to obtain the Order of the Golden Fleece, which he never received. Sculptor Matyáš Bernard Braun made the work in 1724–1725 after a design by František Maxmilián Kaňka; it was unveiled on 4 November 1725, and Špork marked the event with commemorative medals and engravings.
The memorial honors Emperor Charles VI through the artistic partnership of architect František Maxmilián Kaňka and sculptor Matthias Braun. Their combined work reflects the baroque tradition of expressing political devotion and religious reverence through monumental sculpture.
The memorial stands in a quiet rural setting about 19 kilometers northeast of Prague and can be reached via the D10 motorway. The location sits in flat terrain typical of the Polabí lowlands, offering clear views of the monument from the surrounding landscape.
The memorial stands on a hexagonal stone base with a live hedge of the same shape around the plot. Its sandstone canopy rests on three Roman-Doric columns, and the top shows Saint Hubert's vision with a stag, a horse and a pack of hunting dogs. The emperor's life-size statue below wears antique dress.
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