721 - Large sculpture of St John of Nepomuk, c. 1700

Large sculpture of St John of Nepomuk, c. 1700 St John of Nepomuk is depicted in his typical priestly attire: the chasuble, the mozzetta (cape) and the biretta on his head. Exquisite, fully three-dimensional sculptural work (note the hands!) in dark-patinated hardwood, height 95 cm About the figure: Saint John of Nepomuk (c. 1350-1393) was a Bohemian priest and martyr who is today venerated worldwide as the most important patron saint of bridges and the guardian of the seal of confession. Born in Pomuk, Bohemia (near Plzeň), he rose to the position of Vicar General in the Archdiocese of Prague. John became embroiled in the bitter power struggles between the Archbishop of Prague and King Wenceslas IV of Bohemia. In 1393, on the Royal orders, he was tortured and finally thrown from Prague’s Charles Bridge into the Vltava River, where he drowned. A famous account tells that he was put to death because he steadfastly refused to breach the queen’s confessional secrecy in the presence of the jealous king.