Statue of Emperor Joseph II. in Prague VFN

The statue of Emperor Joseph II at VFN Prague stands on the grounds of the Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice (General Faculty Hospital, VFN) on Karlovo náměstí, in Prague's New Town. It is a cast-iron figure of the Habsburg emperor, slightly larger than life-size, cast at the end of the 19th century at the Salm family ironworks in Blansko.

Why is Joseph II specifically honored at this hospital?

The connection between the emperor and this site is not accidental. Shortly after ascending the throne, Joseph II issued directives in 1781 that laid out how health institutions across the Habsburg monarchy should be organized and built. Prague's General Faculty Hospital owes its founding directly to these reforms — the emperor pushed for modernized medical care and centralized hospitals accessible to broader segments of society, not only to wealthy burghers or nobility. The statue at the hospital grounds therefore commemorates the initiator of the entire institution.

Who created the sculpture?

This remains one of the more intriguing open questions about the monument: the authorship of the original sculptural design has never been definitively established. A lack of certain attribution is not unusual for 19th-century serial castings, which were often reproduced from earlier sculptural models without complete design documentation surviving.

Where was the statue cast?

The casting was produced at the ironworks in Blansko in Moravia, operated by the House of Salm — one of the more significant centers of metal industry within the Habsburg monarchy during the 19th century. The foundry specialized, among other things, in artistic and utilitarian cast-iron work, making it a natural place of origin for monuments and commemorative sculptures of this kind.

Is this the only copy of the statue?

Interestingly, ownership of this particular statue formally belongs to the South Bohemian Region (Jihočeský kraj), and the piece has at times been on loan to the Alšova jihočeská galerie in Hluboká nad Vltavou. This means the sculpture has moved between different locations and exhibition contexts before being placed — or returned — to the Prague hospital grounds, where it directly ties back to the history of the site.

Where exactly can visitors find it?

The statue stands within the VFN hospital complex at Karlovo náměstí, in the heart of Prague's New Town — a district laid out under Charles IV, where the medieval history of Prague intersects with the modern healthcare reforms of the Josephine era. The location is easily reachable on foot for anyone exploring the New Town, close to other historical sites in this part of the city.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors view the statue freely? The statue stands on the grounds of an active hospital, so visitors should observe the quiet and respectful conduct appropriate to a working medical facility.

Why is Emperor Joseph II significant to the hospital's history? His reform-minded health directives of 1781 gave the direct impetus for the founding of Prague's General Faculty Hospital.

What material is the statue made of? Cast iron, produced at the Blansko ironworks in the late 19th century.

Is the sculptor known? No — the authorship of the original design remains unestablished to this day.