Statue of Francis of Assisi, Charles Bridge

The Statue of Francis of Assisi stands on the south side of Charles Bridge in Prague, one of thirty sculptures lining this famous crossing over the Vltava River. The composition depicts the founder of the Franciscan order flanked by two angels and was created in 1855 by the Czech sculptor Emanuel Max.

Who was Francis of Assisi?

Francis was born in 1181 in Assisi, Italy, into a wealthy merchant family. As a young man he abandoned his former way of life in favor of poverty and religious devotion, starting out by rebuilding neglected chapels and caring for the sick in his hometown. After traveling to Rome, he obtained approval from Pope Innocent III to found the order known today as the Franciscans, or Order of Friars Minor. In 1224 he became the first saint in history to receive the stigmata — five wounds echoing the Passion of Christ — which he bore for two years until his death in 1226. Two years later, in 1228, Pope Gregory IX canonized him as a saint.

What does the statue look like, and who made it?

The sculpture standing on the bridge today was created in 1855 by Emanuel Max, one of the most important Prague sculptors of the 19th century, who together with his brother Josef Max ranked among the leading artists working in the city at the time. The work, known in Czech as Sousoší svatého Františka Serafinského, portrays Francis of Assisi accompanied by two neoclassical angels set on a pseudo-Baroque pedestal. It was commissioned by Count František Antonín Kolowrat-Libštejnský, and its creation was tied to commemorating Emperor Franz Joseph's survival of an assassination attempt in 1853.

What happened to the original statue?

The spot where Max's work now stands had, since 1708, been occupied by an earlier statue of the same saint, carved by František Preiss — one of the first generation of sculptors to work on Charles Bridge, thought to have come from a Dresden stonemasonry family. The Baroque piece was commissioned by Václav Vojtěch of Šternberk, a member of one of Bohemia's most distinguished noble families, and its style was notably calm and restrained compared with the more dramatic works of other bridge sculptors. Centuries of exposure to the weather eventually damaged the statue beyond simple repair — in 1852, sculptor Josef Max, assessing the condition of the bridge's damaged figures, recommended that some be replaced with new works rather than restored. Preiss's original statue was not lost, however: it was moved to stand in front of the Church of St. Joseph on Náměstí Republiky (Republic Square) in Prague, where it can still be seen today.

Where exactly is the statue located?

The statue stands on the south balustrade of Charles Bridge, among the other statues of saints that have given the bridge its distinctive, solemn character since the turn of the 18th century. Charles Bridge connects the Old Town with Malá Strana and is one of Prague's most visited attractions, so it's worth pausing to look at the individual statues while walking across in either direction.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Francis of Assisi? He was the founder of the Franciscan order, known for a life of poverty and care for the sick, who in 1224 became the first saint in history to receive the stigmata. He died in 1226 and was canonized in 1228.

Who made the statue on Charles Bridge? The current sculpture, dating from 1855, was created by Emanuel Max, one of the leading Prague sculptors of the 19th century.

Is this the first statue of Francis of Assisi to stand on this spot? No — a Baroque statue by František Preiss stood there from 1708. Once damaged beyond repair, it was replaced in 1855 by the current work, and the original was relocated to stand in front of the Church of St. Joseph on Náměstí Republiky in Prague.

Why was the current statue created? It was donated by Count František Antonín Kolowrat-Libštejnský, and its creation was linked to commemorating Emperor Franz Joseph's survival of an assassination attempt in 1853.