Statues of Saints Vincent Ferrer and Procopius, Charles Bridge

The statues of Saints Vincent Ferrer and Procopius form one of thirty baroque sculptural groups lining the balustrade of Prague's Charles Bridge, standing on its south side. The group was carved by Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff in the early 18th century and brings together two saints of strikingly different temperament — a fiery preacher and a calm Bohemian hermit.

Who commissioned the statue and when was it made?

The group was completed in 1712, commissioned by Romedius Josef František, Count Thun, an imperial chamberlain and assessor of the land court. The Dominican order, for whom Vincent Ferrer was a patron saint, also contributed to the funding, as did the Old Town council, which wanted the bridge to finally include a statue of Procopius — one of the patron saints of Bohemia who had been missing from the bridge's sculptural program until then.

What does the sculpture show?

The composition places two saints side by side in contrasting poses. Vincent Ferrer, a Spanish Dominican preacher, raises one hand in a gesture of exorcism, driving a demon out of a possessed man lying at his feet. Beside him stands Procopius, the medieval abbot and hermit associated with the Sázava Monastery, shown in a far calmer register: he pushes away a figure of Satan with his crozier, pinning it down with his foot. This contrast between Vincent's dramatic gesture and Procopius's composed stance is what makes the group stand out among the bridge statues, and is often read as a reflection of the two saints' very different characters.

What is depicted on the pedestal?

The base carries three carved busts in the style of caryatids: a Saracen and a Jew, both said to have been converted to Christianity through Vincent's preaching, and a weeping demon bound by Procopius. Two reliefs decorate the pedestal's faces — a scene of the Last Judgment, and a legendary episode from Procopius's life in which he ploughs a field with the devil harnessed to the plough. Including its base, the entire group stands roughly five metres tall.

Is this the original 18th-century statue?

Not on the bridge itself. Like most of the baroque groups on Charles Bridge, this sculpture suffered heavily from air pollution and moisture over the centuries. In 2012, because of the poor condition of the stone, the original was taken down from the bridge and replaced with a faithful replica. The historic original passed into the care of the Prague City Gallery (GHMP), which conserves and stores it away from further exposure to the weather.

Where exactly is it located?

The group stands on the south side of Charles Bridge, among the thirty baroque statues and sculptural groups that line the balustrade on both sides of the crossing — one of the most photographed historic bridges in Europe, connecting the Old Town with Malá Strana.

Frequently asked questions

Who created the statue? Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff, one of the leading sculptors of Prague Baroque.

When was it made? In 1712, commissioned by Count Romedius Josef František Thun.

Who is depicted in the group? Saint Vincent Ferrer, shown exorcising a demon from a possessed man, and Saint Procopius, pushing away a figure of Satan with his crozier.

Is the statue on the bridge the original? No — the original from 1712 was removed in 2012 due to poor condition and is now cared for by the Prague City Gallery. A faithful copy stands on the bridge in its place.

Where on the bridge should I look for it? On the south side, among the other baroque sculptural groups lining the balustrade of Charles Bridge.