Statue of Saint Isidore

The Statue of Saint Isidore stands in Kutná Hora, on the parapet wall in front of the former Jesuit College, as one of thirteen Baroque sculptural groups decorating this part of the town. The ensemble was created over several decades, between 1707 and 1740, and most of the figures are attributed to the Jesuit sculptor František Baugut. The composition depicting Saint Isidore follows the same pattern as the others in the row: the main figure stands on a small socle, surrounded by small angels and putti holding attributes associated with the saint, and in some cases accompanied by heraldic shields of the noble families who funded the individual sculptures.

Where exactly does the statue stand?

The sculpture is located in the historic part of Kutná Hora, in the Vnitřní Město district, on the parapet wall running along the former Jesuit College. Together with a nearby bridge lined with statues of saints, this spot forms one of the town's characteristic Baroque sculptural sequences. Kutná Hora, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list mainly for its silver-mining history and St Barbara's Cathedral, also holds lesser-known but equally valuable elements of small-scale sacred architecture, and this row of thirteen figures is one of them.

Who was Saint Isidore, and why does his statue stand here?

Saint Isidore the Farmer is the patron saint of farmers, venerated primarily in the Spanish tradition and widely spread across Catholic Europe from the Counter-Reformation era onward. Placing his image among a series of saintly figures in front of a Jesuit college matched a common practice of the time — the Jesuits, who ran educational and pastoral activities in Kutná Hora, funded series of sculptures presenting patron saints of various estates and professions, intended to strengthen the piety of the town's residents and visiting pilgrims.

What does the sculptural composition look like?

Like the other figures in the row, the statue of Saint Isidore is not a single, isolated statue but part of a larger composition. The main figure stands on a small pedestal, with small angel and putto figures placed at its feet or sides, holding objects associated with the saint. Some of the figures in the sequence are also accompanied by heraldic shields belonging to the families that funded the given sculpture — evidence that the creation of the whole ensemble was a joint undertaking of the local elite and the Jesuit order.

Why is this group of statues worth seeing during a visit to Kutná Hora?

Kutná Hora draws visitors mainly because of St Barbara's Cathedral and the Sedlec Ossuary, yet the Baroque row of thirteen saints' statues by the former Jesuit College is an element that is easy to overlook when hurrying between the main attractions. It is precisely details of this kind — individual figures such as the statue of Saint Isidore — that reveal how deeply Baroque piety and ecclesiastical-noble patronage shaped the urban fabric of Kutná Hora in the eighteenth century.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Statue of Saint Isidore located in Kutná Hora? It stands on the parapet wall in front of the former Jesuit College, in the Vnitřní Město district.

Who made the sculpture? Most of the thirteen figures in this ensemble, including likely this statue, are attributed to the Jesuit sculptor František Baugut.

From what period does the statue date? The entire group of sculptures was created between 1707 and 1740, during the Baroque period.

Does the statue stand alone or as part of a larger composition? It is part of a composition featuring small angels and putti carrying the saint's attributes, typical of the whole row of thirteen figures.

Is it worth combining a visit to the statue with other Kutná Hora attractions? Yes — it is located close to the town's historic centre, making it easy to combine with a visit to St Barbara's Cathedral and the old town.