Statues of Saint Joseph and Jesus Christ as a baby in Osice

The Statues of Saint Joseph and the Infant Jesus form a Baroque sculptural group standing in the centre of the village of Osice, in the Hradec Králové district of eastern Czechia. The group was created in 1735 by the Baroque sculptor Ignác Devoty. Because of its artistic and historical value, the monument is listed in the Czech Republic's register of cultural monuments under reference number ÚSKP 29757/6-5497.

What does the sculpture in Osice depict?

The sculptural group shows Saint Joseph holding the infant Jesus, with two small angels placed on the front corners of the massive pedestal completing the composition. The whole work is carved from sandstone, a material typical of Baroque sacred sculpture in this part of Bohemia. The base is decorated with volutes and cartouches bearing relief ornamentation, and the entire structure is topped with a profiled capping slab on which the figural group rests.

Where exactly does the monument stand?

The statue sits on an artificially raised mound right in the centre of the village of Osice, below the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. This position — on an elevation, in the immediate vicinity of the parish church — was a typical arrangement for Baroque votive foundations, meant to be visible from a distance and to form a visual axis with the church building.

Who commissioned and created the sculpture?

The work is attributed to Ignác Devoty, a sculptor active during the Baroque period, whose pieces in the Hradec Králové region reflect the characteristic decorative style of the time — richly ornamented pedestals, dynamic figure arrangements, and the presence of small angels as a complementary element of the religious composition. The date of creation, 1735, places the monument at the height of Baroque flourishing in the Bohemian lands, when similar foundations were erected in large numbers next to churches and on village squares as an expression of piety among local communities and nobility.

Why is it worth stopping in Osice?

Osice is a small village, and the sculptural group of Saint Joseph is one of the few but distinctly preserved testimonies to the Baroque sacred culture of this corner of the Hradec Králové region. For travellers following the trail of sacred monuments in eastern Bohemia, this is a stop that connects with the nearby Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary — together the two form a coherent visual ensemble on the elevation at the heart of the village. The site is easily accessible, and its modest, intimate character contrasts with the more famous, heavily visited monuments of the region.

Frequently asked questions

What material is the sculpture made of? The group is carved from sandstone, typical of outdoor Baroque sculpture in Czechia from this period.

When was the monument created? The sculpture dates from 1735.

Who created the work? It is attributed to the Baroque sculptor Ignác Devoty.

Is the monument legally protected? Yes, the sculptural group is listed in the Czech Republic's register of cultural monuments under reference number ÚSKP 29757/6-5497.

Where exactly does the sculpture stand? On an artificially raised mound in the centre of the village of Osice, below the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, in the Hradec Králové district.

What does the composition show? Saint Joseph holding the infant Jesus, with two small angels on the corners of an ornamented pedestal topped with a profiled capping slab.