Statue of Francis Xavier, Charles Bridge

The Statue of Francis Xavier stands on the south side of Charles Bridge in Prague, part of the collection of thirty Baroque sculptures that line the historic crossing. Unlike many single-figure saints on the bridge, this is a multi-figure group: the Jesuit missionary is shown surrounded by allegorical representatives of the peoples he evangelized on the other side of the world, making it one of the more elaborate compositions on the bridge.

Who created the statue, and when?

The original sculpture was carved in 1711 by Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff, one of the two leading sculptors responsible for the bridge's Baroque decoration (the other being Matyáš Bernard Braun). Brokoff produced several other figures on Charles Bridge, but the Xavier group stands out as a more ambitious, multi-figure composition compared to the single standing saints elsewhere on the bridge.

What does the sculptural group actually show?

Saint Francis Xavier stands on a stone slab carried by four allegorical figures representing nations reached by his missionary work: a Tartar holding two swords on the left, a Moor on the right, and behind them a Chinese figure on the left and an Indian figure on the right. In the upper part of the group, at the saint's feet, a pagan king kneels asking to be baptized, while a young man beside him holds out a baptismal shell. Together, the figures freeze a single symbolic moment — conversion and baptism — standing in for Xavier's missionary career across Asia.

Why isn't today's statue the 1711 original?

Charles Bridge has suffered repeated flood damage over the centuries, and one of the worst floods struck in 1890, when several arches of the bridge collapsed. The original Xavier sculpture fell into the Vltava river along with another statue on the bridge. The fragments were not recovered from the river until 1901, and the bridge went without a complete replacement for several more years. A new version, copying Brokoff's original design, was carved in 1913 by sculptor Čeněk Vosmík — and it is this 1913 replica that stands on the bridge today.

Who was Francis Xavier?

Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Society of Jesus, a close companion of Ignatius of Loyola from the earliest years of the Jesuit order. He is best known for his missionary work across Asia, including India and Japan. The four figures supporting the stone slab beneath him — the Tartar, the Moor, the Chinese figure, and the Indian figure — are a direct reference to the geographic reach of that missionary activity.

Where exactly is the statue on the bridge?

The statue stands on the south side of Charles Bridge, among the row of Baroque figures mounted on the bridge's piers. Walking between the Old Town and Malá Strana, it's worth slowing down at this particular group — its crowded, multi-figure composition sets it apart from the single saintly figures standing nearby.

Frequently asked questions

Who made the statue? The original was carved in 1711 by Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff. The version standing today is a 1913 copy by Čeněk Vosmík.

Why is the current statue a replica rather than the original? The original fell into the Vltava during the 1890 flood, when part of the bridge collapsed. Its fragments were recovered in 1901, and a new copy replaced it a few years later.

Who are the figures carrying the slab beneath the saint? Four allegorical figures representing peoples reached by Xavier's mission: a Tartar with two swords, a Moor, a Chinese figure, and an Indian figure.

Which side of the bridge is the statue on? The south side of Charles Bridge.

Who was Francis Xavier? A Jesuit missionary and a founding member of the Society of Jesus, known for his evangelizing work in Asia.