Aqua viva

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“Aqua viva” by Stanislav Hanzík, 1992
Františkánská zahrada (Franciscan Garden)
Vodičkova, Nové Město
Prague, September 2024

“The garden is located next to the former Franciscan monastery at the Church of Our Lady of the Snows, which can be entered from Vodičkova Street, Wenceslas Square and Jungmann Square. Originally there was a fish tank here and in the recent past a concrete fire tank. Currently, a metal sculpture of a boy has been newly placed here, with water flowing down from a conch shell that the boy is holding above him. The sculpture was created by Stanislav Hanzík (he called it ‘Aqua viva’) in 1992 and also serves as a drinking fountain.” (Drinking bottle with a sculpture of a boy, Pražské kašny a fontány)

Goethe-Institut

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Goethe-Institut
Masarykovo nábřeží, Nové Město
Prague, September 2024

“The Goethe-Institut in Prague has been located in a building on Masaryk Embankment since 1991. This Art Nouveau building was built between 1903 and 1905, thanks to the renovation of previous houses. These were from the 15th century – the Šandovský house (At the Three Wild Men) and part of Nové Lázně No. 228. The current building was designed by Jiří Stibral, the sculptures on the facade were designed by sculptor Ladislav Šaloun. The investor was Fr. Schaffer. It was built for the First Czech Insurance Bank, which had its headquarters here. However, it was nationalized in 1945 and closed down in 1958. Between 1945-48, the building was used by the Bulgarian Embassy, and between 1949-1990, it was used by the Embassy of the German Democratic Republic. Since 1991, the building has been the seat of the Prague Goethe-Institut.” (Goethe-Institut Czech Republic, Wikipedia)

Sedící dívka

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“Sedící dívka” (Sitting girl) by Jan Hana, 1958
U Sovových mlýnů, Malá Strana
Prague, September 2024

“The ‘Sitting girl’, also called Jarmila, is a sandstone sculpture in Kampa Park on Kampa Island in Lesser Town, Prague. Sitting Girl is a nude of a slender girl sitting on a stone, created by the academic sculptor Jan Hána (1927–1994). The sculpture was created in 1958 or 1965 and has been located in Kampa Park since 1977. The sculpture is placed on a low ashlar plinth.” (Sedící dívka, Wikipedia)

Latte a cheescake

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“Latte a cheescake” (Latte and cheesecake) by Veronika Psotková, 2023
U Sovových mlýnů, Malá Strana
Prague, September 2024

“She later discovered that it is possible to form sculptures from rabit mesh without a supporting structure to which she would transfer the sculpture, but she cuts, shapes and sews the rabit mesh directly into "shells" - spatial "drawings" and only uses the frame for larger objects, which she later removes. She lets the sculptures made of technical mesh grow with the natural color of rust, or repaints them and fixes them with varnish. For exterior sculptures, she also uses hot-dip galvanized mesh (‘Latte a cheescake’, Kampa Prague, 2023).” (Veronika Psotková, Wikipedia)

Dívka s amforou

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“Dívka s amforou” (Girl with an amphora) by Jaroslav Horejc, 1956
Nosticova zahrada (Nostic Garden)
Maltézské náměstí, Malá Strana
Prague, September 2024

“The ‘Girl with an amphora’ is a white marble sculpture in the exterior of the Nostic Garden, near the Čertovka canal in Lesser Town of Prague. It is a nude of a half-naked slender girl sitting on a stone and holding an amphora on her right shoulder. The author of the work in the Art Deco style is the Czech Prague academic sculptor Jaroslav Horejc (1886–1983). The sculpture is placed on a low sandstone block plinth. The work is in the care of the Gallery of the City of Prague. The first version of the work was created in 1938 and was made of plaster. Later, the author also created a bronze work and finally, in 1956, a marble version of the work was created. In 1980 or 1983, the work was placed in the Nostic Garden. In 2002, the work was restored.” (Dívka s amforou, Wikipedia)

Svatý Václav

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Svatý Václav (Saint Wenceslas) by Vincenc Vosmík, 1906
Ke Hradu, Malá Strana
Prague, September 2024

“Wenceslaus I (Czech: Václav; c. 907 – 28 September 935), Wenceslas I or Václav the Good was the Prince (kníže) of Bohemia from 921 until his death, probably in 935. According to the legend, he was assassinated by his younger brother, Boleslaus the Cruel. His martyrdom and the popularity of several biographies gave rise to a reputation for heroic virtue that resulted in his sainthood. He was posthumously declared to be a king and patron saint of the Czech state. He is the subject of the well-known ‘Good King Wenceslas’ , a carol for Saint Stephen's Day.” (Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, Wikipedia)

Toileta

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Socha Eva (Statue of Eva) by Jan Štursa, 1908
Nerudova, Malá Strana
Prague, September 2024

“Statue of Eva (Woman in the Bath, Toilet). A work by Jan Štursa from 1908, on the dividing line between Art Nouveau and monumental neoclassicism. The result of several studies was a marble sculpture from 1901, followed by another so-called large version in bronze from 1908 and finally in 1910 a version in stone. At its current location in the niche of the ramp of Prague Castle at No. 226, the statue was placed in 1922. A woman on a rocky formation, her head turned to the right, holding back her flowing hair with both hands.” (Socha Eva, Wikimedia)

Palladium fountain

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Fountain sculpture by Pavel Roučka, 2007
Na Poříčí, Nové Město
Prague, September 2024

“The Palladium shopping centre was opened to the public on 25 October 2007 after a two-year reconstruction of the former barracks. Pavel Roučka created a fountain sculpture for the small courtyard adjacent to the buildings at the Church of St. Joseph, which opens onto Na Poříčí Street. Its appearance is inspired by the rough stone masonry of the adjacent wall from the 17th century and horse troughs from the 19th century. This created an interesting water cascade, complemented by a modern sheet metal plate, over which the water flows into the sewer grate. On the adjacent reconstructed wall, the artist created a bas-relief with the motif of a horse's head.” (Fountain sculpture in the Equestrian Courtyard of the Palladium Shopping Center, Pražské kašny a fontány)

Kašna Terezka

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Kašna Terezka (Teresa Fountain) by Václav Prachner, 1812
Mariánské náměstí, Staré Město
Prague, September 2024

“The Fountain with the Allegorical Statue of the Vltava River, also called the Teresa Fountain, is a fountain with a statue of a young girl by sculptor Václav Prachner, designed by Josef Bergler. Since 1812, it has been located on the south side of Mariánské náměstí in the wall of the Clam-Gallas Palace in the Old Town of Prague. The Church of Our Lady of the Pond stood on its site until 1791. The seated girl holds two jugs. Water flows from the vessel in her right hand into a fountain, while in her left hand is a larger vessel with a stream of water, allegorically symbolizing the Vltava River with five stars reminiscent of the legend of the Czech saint John of Nepomuk, who was thrown from the Charles Bridge into the river. The people of Prague became very fond of this fountain and began to call the statue ‘Terezka’, perhaps after the pretty girl who supposedly once came here to fetch water. The fountain was very popular and was damaged and subsequently repaired several times. Since 1953, when it was last reconstructed, a sandstone copy of it has been placed here, the original being kept in the depository of the National Gallery. Several Prague stories and legends are also associated with the fountain.” (Fountain with an allegorical statue of the Vltava River, Wikipedia)

Náměstí Míru

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Platform of the Metro station on Line A
Náměstí Míru, Vinohrady
Prague, September 2024

“Náměstí Míru (Peace Square) is a Prague Metro station on Line A. It is located in Vinohrady district under Korunní Street and has one exit through an escalator tunnel with a sub-surface vestibule under the plaza of the same name. The exit of the metro station is in the immediate vicinity of the Church of St. Ludmila and Vinohrady Theatre. The station was completed along with the first section of Line A, between Leninova and Náměstí Míru, and opened on 12 August 1978. It served as a terminus until the extension of Line A to Želivského station on 19 December 1980. Náměstí Míru is the deepest station of the Prague Metro, its platform is situated 53 metres below surface. The station has the longest escalators in European Union (length 87 m, vertical span 43.5 m, 533 steps, taking 2 minutes and 21 seconds to ascend or 2 minutes 19 seconds to descend without walking). Náměstí Míru, however, is not the deepest point within the Prague Metro network; this record belongs to the tunnel between Hradčanská and Malostranská stations (68 m below surface). The station is named after the square under which it is located. During the 2002 European floods the station became the western terminus for its line, with trains running to Skalka. Náměstí Míru is intended to be part of the new Line D, with trains running between the station and C-line station Pankrác. The D-line station is intended to be built closer to the surface, meaning the existing station on the A-line will continue to be the deepest on the network.” (Náměstí Míru, Wikipedia)

Wildflowers and Butterflies

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Fontána Divoženky a poletuchy (Wildflowers and Butterflies Fountain) by Josef Klimeš, 1992
Františkánská zahrada (Franciscan Garden)
Vodičkova, Nové Město
Prague, September 2024

“The Wildflowers and Butterflies Fountain is a bronze sculpture with a drinking fountain placed on a granite pedestal. The author of the work is the sculptor Josef Klimeš (1928–2018). The work is located in the Franciscan Garden in New Town, Prague 1. The fountain, located in the western part of the garden, was created in 1992 and is made using the casting and cutting method. It depicts silhouettes and reliefs of three hollow dancing and fluttering figures (wild girls and flying birds) with prominent holes in the places of the eyes and mouths. The place is freely accessible all year round.” (Wildflowers and Butterflies Fountain, Wikipedia)

Dům U Nováků

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Dům U Nováků (Novak House)
Vodičkova, Nové Město
Prague, September 2024

“The U Nováků House is an Art Nouveau commercial and multi-purpose building at Vodičkova 699/34, 110 00 in New Town, Prague 1, near Wenceslas Square. It was named after Josef Novák, a tailor and textile entrepreneur who operated the department store and also owned a tailor's salon there. The building has been protected as a cultural monument since 1958. The plot once housed the house and shop of the butcher Vodička, after whom the street is named. Here in 1878, the brothers Antonín and Josef Nováková, originally from Česká Třebová, purchased a house and a yarn and toy shop, a former brewery, U Štajgrů, for a relatively small sum. The brothers acquired the shop from a seriously ill owner who died three days after the transaction. The brothers focused the shop solely on selling textiles. After Antonín Novák's death, Josef took over the management of the business, successfully developing it and expanding the range to include tailoring and fashion. The house was built between 1901 and 1904 according to the design of the famous architect Osvald Polívka. It is a multifunctional commercial palace with an arcade, shop and facilities, offices, sports halls, a gaming room and the U Nováků theatre for 700 spectators and a cabaret hall. The client and owner of the building, Josef Novák, died two years after its completion in 1906 , at the age of 51. However, the name J. Novák remained on the house for a long time and was returned to it after the Velvet Revolution of 1989.” (Dům U Nováků, Wikipedia)

Nobles of Bohemia

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Figural columns (27 executed nobles of Bohemia) by Karel Nepraš, 1995
Liechtenstein Palace
Malostranské náměstí, Malá Strana
Prague, September 2024

“Continued cooperation with arch. Kupka was important for his projects for architecture also in the 1990s. At that time he abandoned assemblages and created a series of stylistically pure cast-iron torso casts (‘Measure of Responsibility’, 1993), figural columns for Liechtenstein Palace (realized by SVOAS, Stará Huť's foundry and engineering plant), semi-figures – columns ‘Three Figures’ (1999, Museum Kampa) or designs for the stone elements of the staircase of Liechtenstein Palace. In his inventive design of the balustrades and railings of the stair hall, he applied the motif of singing angelic choirs in profile.” (Karel Nepraš, Wikipedia)

U Černého medvěda

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U Černého medvěda (At the Black Bear)
Týn, Staré Město
Prague, September 2024

“The House at the Black Bear is a house at No. 642/6 in Týn in the Old Town of Prague in the historical area of Ungelt, which also extends into Štupartská Street (No. 5) with its rear part. It stands next to the House at the Blue Eagle, and on Štupartská Street the House of Šviks from Lukonos is also adjacent to it. The first mention of the house dates back to 1428, the current ground plan was originally intersected by the Týn wall (remains of a moat and palisade were also discovered during archaeological research), and one house stood outside and the other inside. These two houses were already connected in the Middle Ages. During the Renaissance, the main facade on the ground floor was rebuilt and a new one was built on the first floor. After the fire of Prague in 1689 , the house was rebuilt in Baroque style, and it underwent another Baroque reconstruction in 1718. In 1915, the entrance from Štupartská Street was closed. In the 1980s, the house was converted into a hotel, and its building permit was issued in 1984. The facade facing Týn is decorated with statues of St. Leopold (right) and St. Florian (left). There was also a statue of St. John of Nepomuk. At the top of the tympanum is a bust of Charles VI.” (Dům U Černého medvěda, Wikipedia)

Monument to Johannes Kepler

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Monument to Johannes Kepler
(Courtyard of the former Kepler Museum)
Karlova / Anenská, Staré Město
Prague, September 2024

“Sadly, for an astronomy fan like myself, the Kepler museum is no longer operational. This museum was located in the house Kepler had lived in during his 12 years in Prague. During this time, he finished his work on his first and second laws. It’s unfortunate visitors are not allowed into the house for now, since the museum closed. However, you can still pop into its courtyard, to see the bronze sculpture in its centre. This sculpture, although small, is striking and assertive in its own way. At its centre is a globe representing the sun, with five circles around it. An elliptic with Kepler’s name in Art Deco font crosses the circles that ring the globe. The even spacing of the circles and how they grow and shrink have a harmonious quality to them, and the diagonal elliptic gives it a sense of movement. During Kepler’s lifetime, he was intrigued by the “music of the spheres”. A concept that each celestial body has an ever-changing song related to its speed in orbit. This sculpture, with its harmonious composition, might have taken inspiration from Kepler’s work on this topic.” (Secrets and Sights of Old Town Prague, The Next Crossing)

Memorial to Einstein

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Memorial to Einstein
Staroměstské náměstí, Staré Město
Prague, September 2024

“‘Here, in the salon of Mrs Berta Fanta, Albert Einstein, Professor at Prague University in 1911 to 1912, founder of the Theory of Relativity, Nobel prize winner, played the violin and met his friends, famous writers Max Brod and Franz Kafka.’ The plaque was erected on the wall of the house ‘The Unicorn’ in Prague’s Old Town Square on the 120th anniversary of Einstein’s birth, 14 March 1998. The design, by the sculptor Zdenĕk Kolářský, incorporates a bas-relief profile of the scientist, with a diagram combining the formula E=mc², the silhouette of a violin, and the Charles Bridge and tower.” (Memorial to Einstein, The Prague Vitruvius)

IMAGE Black light Theatre

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IMAGE Black light Theatre
Národní, Staré Město
Prague, September 2024

“Today the Theatre IMAGE is a theatre company with its own structure and a regular heartbeat. For several years a stable group of creative partners have been the core of the theatre. As a result of their cooperation an ensemble with its own image has grown and established itself in the world of theatre. Performances of special character arise from work of creators co-operating in a friendly atmosphere. The creators started to gather around them a circle of colleagues with the same approach to the idea of theatre. Still, the growing ensemble has retained its own specific image although the structure of the company had to adjust to changing circumstances. This has made the company an unmistakable part of the Prague theatre scene.” (History, IMAGE Black light Theatre)

Nový věk

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“Nový věk” (New Age) by Vincenc Makovský, 1958 (1970s copy)
Vinohradská, Vinohrady
Prague, September 2024

“The ‘Nový věk’ (New Age) sculpture was created by sculptor Vincenc Makovský for the Czechoslovak pavilion at the 1958 International Exhibition Expo in Brussels. The original name of the sculpture was ‘Atomový věk’ (Atomic Age). The sculpture received the Grand Prize of the World Exhibition in Brussels. The original sculpture has been placed in front of the main entrance to the Brno Fair and Exhibition Center since 1959, where it has been a protected monument since 1964. A copy of the sculpture is located in Prague. The sculpture shows a man and a woman, between whom is a stylized sun, which is an allegory of the coming atomic age. The man in a cloak, holding scrolls with plans in his hands, represents an allegory of Science , the barefoot woman with a wreath of foliage in an antique-style dress with fruit in her left hand and a sheaf of grain in her right hand represents Agriculture. The sculpture is placed on a reinforced concrete, vertically articulated pedestal with stone cladding. Between the female and male figures is a star-crystal, whose rays diverging to the sides depict a powerful explosion of nascent matter. It is the sun, whose new form of tearing matter Makovsky created as an interpretation of the contemporary view of the universe.” (New Age Sculpture Group, Wikipedia)

Kino Lucerna

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Kino Lucerna
Palác Lucerna
Vodičkova, Nové Město
Prague, September 2024

"Lucerna is a Prague cinema opened on December 3, 1909 in the Lucerna Palace, which was built by Vácslav Havel between 1907 and 1921. The builder Dobroslav Hnídek and the architect Stanislav Bechyn participated in the construction of the complex, who, in addition to the cabaret hall, also designed a theater with a revolving auditorium, which was converted into a cinema hall less than a year later. It originally had an Art Nouveau look, but later underwent a pseudo-Rococo renovation. Lucerna is the oldest still functioning cinema in the Czech Republic. From 1926, Václav and Miloš Havel managed the cinema together. During their tenure, in 1929, the cinema began to show sound pictures as the first cinema in Prague. The first film was the Comedians' Ship. After February 1948, the cinema belonged to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (ÚV KSČ), and after the Velvet Revolution, it has been owned again by the Havel family since 1991." (Kino Lucerna, Wikipedia)

Divadlo na Vinohradech

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Divadlo na Vinohradech (Vinohrady Theatre)
Náměstí Míru, Vinohrady
Prague, September 2024

“Vinohrady Theatre (Czech: Divadlo na Vinohradech) is a theatre in Vinohrady, Prague. Construction began on February 27, 1905. It served as the Theatre of the Czechoslovak Army from autumn 1950 to January 1966. It contains a curtain painted by Vladimír Županský depicting a naked muse. Playwrights associated with the theatre include Viktor Dyk who was active around 1915. During the Velvet Revolution, where the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was overthrown, there was a rally outside the theatre on the night of November 19–20; actress Vlasta Chramostová was quoted as asking the crowd: ‘If not now, when? If not us, then who?’” (Vinohrady Theatre, Wikipedia)