monument to Hana Kvapilová

The Monument to Hana Kvapilová is a white marble memorial to one of the most celebrated Czech actresses of the turn of the 20th century, standing in the Kinský Garden on Prague's Smíchov hillside. The sculpture shows a seated figure in one of the actress's best-known stage roles and has occupied this quiet corner of the park for more than a century.

Where exactly does the monument stand?

The memorial is set in the Kinský Garden, tucked into a secluded spot between the former Kinský summer house — today home to the Ethnographic Museum (Národopisné muzeum) — and Holečkova street. This part of the park lies on the Petřín hillside, close to its southern boundary wall, away from the main paths and busiest walking routes.

Who created the sculpture, and when?

The monument was designed by Jan Štursa (1880–1925), one of the leading Czech sculptors of his generation. He worked on the piece over several years, roughly from 1909 to 1912–1913. The block of white marble itself, brought from Laas in Tyrol, was carved by Štursa's regular stonemason, Otakar Velínský. The finished monument was installed against the garden's southern wall in 1914.

What does the sculpture depict?

The figure shows the actress seated, leaning slightly back in a chair — a pose recalling one of her most celebrated roles, Ellida Wangel in Henrik Ibsen's play The Lady from the Sea. For this work, Štursa deliberately chose a more classical, traditional treatment of form, stepping back from the bolder, more modern approach he used in some of his other sculptures.

Who was Hana Kvapilová?

Hana Kvapilová (1860–1907) was born in Prague as Johanna Kubešová. She began her acting career in 1886 at Švanda's Theatre and from 1888 performed at the National Theatre (Národní divadlo), where she became one of the leading actresses of her generation. She was married to the playwright and director Jaroslav Kvapil. She died prematurely at the age of 46 from hereditary diabetes; in keeping with her final wish, her body was cremated — still an unusual and unconventional choice in Austria-Hungary at the time.

Why was this particular spot chosen?

The Kinský Garden, a landscape park originally laid out around the Kinský family's summer house on the slope of Petřín, has long served as a quiet, green space of remembrance in this part of Prague. Placing a monument here to an actress so closely tied to Prague's theatrical life fit naturally with the character of the garden — secluded and away from the bustle of the city center, yet easily reached by residents of Smíchov and Petřín.

What should you know before visiting?

The monument doesn't sit along the garden's main paths but in a side corner near the boundary wall, so it's worth allowing a little extra time to find it. It makes a good addition to a walk through Petřín and the Kinský Garden for anyone interested in the history of Czech theatre, rather than a typical stop on a standard Prague sightseeing route. The Kinský summer house itself, now housing an ethnographic exhibition, stands nearby, making it easy to combine both sights in a single walk.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Hana Kvapilová? A Czech actress (1860–1907) who became a member of Prague's National Theatre in 1888 and one of the leading figures of Czech theatre at the turn of the 20th century.

Where exactly does the monument stand? In the Kinský Garden in Smíchov, tucked between the former Kinský summer house and Holečkova street, near the park's southern wall.

Who created the monument? The sculptor Jan Štursa, with the marble carved by his stonemason Otakar Velínský.

When was the monument installed? In 1914, after Štursa had worked on the design for several years starting around 1909.

What material is the monument made of? White marble brought from Laas in Tyrol.

Which role does the sculpture depict? Kvapilová as Ellida Wangel from Ibsen's The Lady from the Sea, one of her most famous stage roles.