Statue of Saint Anne, Charles Bridge

The Statue of Saint Anne is one of the Baroque sculptures lining the balustrade of Charles Bridge in Prague, created in 1707 to depict the grandmother of Jesus together with her daughter Mary and her grandson. It stands on the bridge's northern side, among dozens of saintly figures that have given the crossing its distinctive, procession-like character since the turn of the 18th century.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The statue sits on one of the piers along the northern balustrade of Charles Bridge, which connects Prague's Old Town with the Lesser Town (Malá Strana). The bridge is pedestrian-only, and its statues can be viewed at any time of day, year-round, free of charge — though the middle of the day tends to bring heavy crowds. Its coordinates (50.08647 N, 14.41194 E) place it on the stretch of the bridge closer to the Old Town side.

Who created it, and who paid for it?

The statue was carved in 1707 by Matěj Václav Jäckel, one of the leading sculptors of Prague's Baroque period, at the expense of Count Rudolf of Lisov, hetman of Prague's New Town. Private patronage like this was the norm rather than the exception: most of the bridge's statues were funded by wealthy burghers, nobles, or religious orders, for whom sponsoring a saint's likeness was both a devotional act and a public display of status.

What does the sculpture depict?

Jäckel portrayed Saint Anne in the popular iconographic style of the period: a woman holding the young Mary in her arms, with the child looking up at her mother and offering a bouquet of roses. Beside them stands the infant Jesus, embracing a globe topped with a cross — a symbol of Christ's dominion over the world. Bringing three generations of the Holy Family into a single composition was typical of Baroque religious art, meant to underline an unbroken line of salvation running from Anne, through Mary, to Christ.

Is the statue on the bridge the original?

No. Like most of the figures on Charles Bridge, Jäckel's original did not survive centuries of outdoor exposure in good condition and was moved to the lapidarium at Vyšehrad, where it is protected from further weathering. Since 1999, a faithful replica by sculptors Vojtěch Adamec and Martin Pokorný has stood in its place on the bridge. Replacing weathered originals with copies is standard conservation practice, and it applies to the majority of the statues visitors see on the bridge today.

Why was Saint Anne chosen for Charles Bridge?

The cult of Saint Anne, mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus, was widely practiced in Baroque Bohemia. She was venerated as the patron of mothers, families, and happy motherhood, and her image was frequently commissioned for churches, chapels, and public spaces. Placing her figure among the bridge's other saintly patrons reflected the era's fashion for public piety: residents and pilgrims crossing the bridge would pass one saint after another, each meant to inspire faith and offer spiritual protection over the crossing.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Statue of Saint Anne on Charles Bridge made? It was carved by Matěj Václav Jäckel in 1707.

Who paid for the statue? Count Rudolf of Lisov, hetman of Prague's New Town, financed its creation.

Is the statue currently on the bridge the original? No — the original was moved to the lapidarium at Vyšehrad, and a 1999 replica by Vojtěch Adamec and Martin Pokorný now stands in its place.

What does the statue show? Saint Anne holding the young Mary, who offers her a bouquet of roses, alongside the infant Jesus embracing a globe topped with a cross.

Which side of the bridge is it on? The northern side of Charles Bridge, among the other Baroque saintly statues.

Is there a fee to see the statue? No, the bridge and all its statues can be viewed free of charge at any time.