Statue of Francis Xavier

The statue of Saint Francis Xavier stands on the stone terrace in front of the former Jesuit College in Kutná Hora, part of one of the most distinctive Baroque sculptural ensembles in this Czech town. It belongs to a set of thirteen statues of saints created between 1703 and 1716 by the workshop of sculptor František Baugut, a Jesuit lay brother who also produced the town's plague column.

Why was the terrace built this way?

The Jesuit College, erected in the second half of the 17th century, was given a raised, walled terrace overlooking the Vrchlice river valley, enclosed by a low stone parapet. The design was no accident: the space in front of the building was meant to evoke Prague's Charles Bridge and its Royal Route, once walked by dignitaries and pilgrims alike. Lining the terrace wall with a row of saints' statues was intended to lend Kutná Hora a prestige comparable to that of the capital.

What else stands on the terrace?

Besides the figure of Francis Xavier, twelve other statues of saints stand along the balustrade, including Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, Saint Wenceslas, patron of the Czech lands, Saint John of Nepomuk, and Saint Florian, widely venerated in Bohemia as protector against fire and disaster. The ensemble is completed by decorative stone vases and two sculptures of heraldic angels, arranged between the figures along the length of the parapet wall.

Who was Francis Xavier, and why was he placed here?

Francis Xavier, a Spanish missionary and one of the co-founders of the Society of Jesus, held particular significance for the college, since the Jesuits ran education and pastoral work in Kutná Hora from the 17th century onward. Including his likeness among the order's most important saints underscored the institution's identity and its connection to the Jesuit missionary effort, which extended well beyond Europe to the distant lands where Xavier himself had preached.

Who created the statue?

The statue, like the entire terrace ensemble, is the work of František Baugut, a sculptor active in Kutná Hora at the turn of the 18th century who was himself a member of the Jesuit order. His work combined the craftsmanship of Baroque stonemasonry with deep religious commitment — Baugut is also known for the town's plague column, erected in memory of epidemic victims.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly does the statue stand? On the stone terrace in front of the former Jesuit College in Kutná Hora, now home to the Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region (GASK).

When was it made? As part of sculptural work carried out between 1703 and 1716.

Is it the only statue on the terrace? No — the Francis Xavier figure is one of thirteen saints' statues placed along the entire terrace balustrade.

Why does the terrace resemble the Charles Bridge? Its creators deliberately drew on the Prague model to elevate the standing of Kutná Hora and its Jesuit college through association with the capital's most famous landmark.

Who designed the sculptures? The whole ensemble, including the statue of Francis Xavier, was produced by the workshop of sculptor František Baugut.