Statues - Hither & Thither

Site Search:

Praha
Hlavní mĕsto

Pohořelec, Hradčany

Svatý Jan Nepomucký s andĕly

Saint John of Nepomuk with angels

Nepomuk c. 1345 - Praha 1393
confessor of the queen of Bohemia; patron saint of bridges
(Wikipedia)

Attributed to
Jan Antonín Quittainer
1752

Description

Sandstone statue of St. John of Nepomuk and two angels, one indicating silence by a finger over the lips, the other with a statuette of the Virgin Mary with Child.

The authorship is doubtful: some sources claim J. A. Quittainer to be the author, other mention T. Hochhaus. The statues were transferred to Pohořelec in 1846 from Hradčanského námĕstí.

Praha - Svatý Jan Nepomucký s andĕly

Inscription(s)

[above the star]
CLaM DICIt
[in a sixpointed star, first in the six points]
ECCE - sILenDo - MartIr - steLLæ - præDICant - gLorIaM
[in the center of the star]
sIspreCor MeDeLa sanCte Ioannes
[below the star]
sIC Data MerCes
gLorIae

I.I.IN.HM fieri curavit

[Free translation by Nepomuki]
The mystery reveals (that one should) proclaim the glory of the stars. Behold the martyr of silence. Behold the price of glory. Whoever you are, ask Saint John sincerely for healing. I.I. created and restored this monument

Five chronograms for 1752

Saint John of Nepomuk

As confessor of the queen of Bohemia he refused to divulge the secrets of the confessional. At the behest of King Wenceslaus of Bohemia he was thrown from the Charles Bridge in Prague and drowned. John of Nepomuk is patron saint of bridges.
His figure is often encountered in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, Poland and Lithuania. He is usually portrayed with a halo of five stars, commemorating the stars that hovered over the Vltava River on the night of his murder, also is said that the five stars are supposed to symbolize the five letters of Latin word "tacet", which means "silent".
Other attributes are a priestly dress, the palm of martyrs and a large crucifix, to which he is usually looking.
As additional figures there are often one of more little angels, respectively indicating silence by a finger over the lips, with a crucifix and with the bible.

There are several sites listing statues of Saint John of Nepomuk:

Saxa Loquuntur, Svatý Jan Nepomucký: Svatojánské sochy v českých a moravských krajských mĕstech
Nepomuki
Treffpunkt Schoener-Reisen, Sankt Nepomuk, der Brückenheilige
Gerhard Eichinger, Nepomuk Sammlung [➝ Geschichte(n) ➝ Nepomuk Sammlung]
Wedigo von Wedel, www.brueckenheilige.de.
Nepomuki.pl, Chronostychy Nepomucki (chronograms on Nepomuk statues).

Artist

Jan Antonín Quittainer (1709-1765), czech sculptor

Sources & Information

Markéta Gausová Zörnerová, Svatojánský kult na Starém Městě pražském a Hradčanech od 17. století do r. 2019. (Svatojánské sochy a jiná vyobrazení v městském prostoru) [The Cult of St John in Prague’s Old Town and Hradčany from the 17th century to 2019. (Statues of St John and other depictions in the urban landscape)] Master thesis. (online access).
Nepomuki.pl Chronostychy Nepomucki.

Location (N 50°5'15" - E 14°23'20") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: czpr047; Photograph: 18 February 2011 / updated: 11 July 2026
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

Your banner here? Click for information.