Символ Праги і чеської державності Symbol of Prague and Czech statehood

Rating 9110

After the equestrian statue of Prince Wenceslas by Jan Bendl was moved from Wenceslas Square to Visegrad in 1879, there was a need for a new monument on the site of the former one. In January 1894, a competition was announced, in which eight sculptors were admitted. As a result, Myslbek's project was chosen: Prince Wenceslas - a warrior and commander in full armor, fearlessly looking into the distance. Work on the monument lasted more than twenty years.
The co-authors of the famous Myslbek were the architect A. Driak, who carried out the architectural design, and the sculptor C. Klouchek, who decorated the pedestal of the monument with original ornaments. The original model of the monument changed many times and eventually the equestrian statue of Prince Wenceslas was supplemented by four statues of Czech saints: St. Ludmila, St. Prokop, St. Vojtech, St. John (later it was replaced by a statue of St. Anne).
The figure of Wenceslas himself in the process of creation was supplemented by chain mail, sword and helmet. An inscription is carved on the pedestal of the monument: "Saint Wenceslas, Duke of the Czech Land, our prince, do not let us or our children die. " The monument was inaugurated on October 28.1918.