Socha svatého Donáta

The Statue of Saint Donatus is a Baroque sandstone figure standing amid open fields in Třebohostice, a part of the small town of Škvorec east of Prague. Slightly smaller than life-size, it depicts Saint Donatus of Arezzo — a saint invoked for protection against hail and lightning — and has watched over the surrounding farmland since 1765, even though the village it once stood beside has long since vanished.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The sculpture marks a crossroads of field paths on the site once occupied by the village of Křimín, which no longer exists — its memory survives largely through this monument. The statue is set among a cluster of old linden trees, a planting tradition commonly associated with roadside shrines and devotional sculptures in this part of Central Europe. The coordinates are 50.0529533, 14.7446484, with the town of Škvorec — of which Třebohostice is an administrative part — as the nearest landmark.

Who commissioned it, and why?

The statue was commissioned by Princess Maria Theresa of Savoy (1694–1772), owner of an extensive estate that included Škvorec, Kostelec nad Černými lesy, Uhříněves, Rataje nad Sázavou, and Kounice. On 27 June 1764, she issued a written order in Vienna instructing that a statue of Saint Donatus — a saint she particularly venerated as a protector against hail and destructive storms — be erected in a suitable location on each of her estates. The order was carried out near Škvorec the following year, in 1765, resulting in the sculpture that stands there today.

What can be seen on the pedestal?

The figure rests on a stone base with a square footing, topped by an arched block that in turn supports a tall, prism-shaped main pedestal. Its front face bears a carved relief of the crowned allied coat of arms of Savoy and Liechtenstein — the heraldic mark of the founding princess's family — together with the date 1765. The name of the sculptor was never recorded, and the artist remains unknown. Despite more than two and a half centuries of exposure and the loss of the saint's right hand at some point in its history, the statue has retained a high degree of authenticity and has not undergone extensive reconstruction.

Who was Saint Donatus, and why were his statues placed in fields?

Saint Donatus of Arezzo was a Roman-era martyr and bishop from Italy, venerated there as a patron and protector of farmers. He was invoked for protection of crops against hail and lightning — hazards that could destroy an entire year's harvest in a single storm. Statues of Saint Donatus were typically erected in open farmland, at crossroads of agricultural paths or along estate boundaries, positioned to "watch over" the surrounding fields. Such figures are considerably rarer across Central Europe than, say, statues of Saint John of Nepomuk, making the Škvorec statue a notable record of eighteenth-century agrarian piety in the region.

How do you get there?

Třebohostice lies right beside Škvorec, a town roughly 20 kilometers east of central Prague, in the Praha-východ district. The statue is best reached by car; since it stands along an unpaved field track outside the built-up area, visitors should expect a short walk from the nearest paved road.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Statue of Saint Donatus located? It stands at a crossroads of field paths in Třebohostice, a part of the town of Škvorec east of Prague, on the site of the now-vanished village of Křimín.

When was the statue built, and who commissioned it? It was erected in 1765 at the initiative of Princess Maria Theresa of Savoy, owner of the local estate, carrying out her written order issued in 1764.

What is the statue made of? Gray sandstone, slightly under life-size, set on a stone pedestal decorated with the Savoy-Liechtenstein coat of arms.

Who is the saint depicted? Saint Donatus of Arezzo, a Roman bishop and martyr, invoked as a patron protecting crops against hail and lightning.

Is the statue well preserved? Yes — aside from the loss of the saint's right hand, it retains a high degree of original substance and has not undergone significant reconstruction.