Attributes and Virtues

Exclusive Attributes:

5 stars – golden or glowing – with five ends – mostly in the form of a halo. Stars are to be found with Virgin Mary (12) and St. John of Nepomuk. They appeared on the Vltava River over the spot where the body of St. John of Nepomuk was found. Also, they combine to make the word of TACUI – i.e. I have kept silence. They are also a remembrance of the Five Sacred Wounds of Christ.

Tongue – the symbol of keeping silence, observing the Seal of the Confessional – pink in colour, with the tip bent upwards (nowadays a little less obvious and acceptable feature).

Bridge – over the lying body, or even a small artifact, could be just an outline below the figure of St. John of Nepomuk, on a stand, cartouche or otherwise, depending on the artist’s imagination. There can even be river under it (in the form of little waves or with blue paint) but not necessarily.

General Attributes:

Palm tree – a general sign for saints representing martyrdom or victory, mostly both (with martyrdom, the Saint gained the victory). It is in most cases represented by a cycas leaf, in St. John of Nepomuk’s case a gilded one, being very characteristic for him.
Keeping silence – (see also Tongue) – characteristic for St. John of Nepomuk but it also belongs to another Czech saint, John Sarkander, to signify the Seal of Confessional, even when facing the threat of death. It is usually done by St. John of Nepomuk’s own finger being placed over his lips or there is a putto or a cherub at his feet with its finger in front of its lips. The cherub can be alight near the saint’s figure. It can also be signified by a padlock (see the sculpture in Ostrov) or a key or a bundle of them. Alternatively, it can even be a fish (see the following.)

Holy Cross, mostly with the Body of Christ – a general sign or symbol of the Christian persuasion, characteristic in St. John of Nepomuk (from among other well known saints also to be found in St. Therese of the Child Jesus and others). If it is pressed against the chest or on the body, either with the Body of Christ coiled or facing outwards, it signifies a very intensive, strong and unshakeable inner belief. If it is held in a stretched out hand, to the front or skywards, it signifies for spreading the faith, a missionary effort. The complete Holy Cross or the Body of Christ is usually gilded. The Holy Cross without the Body of Christ is the general symbol of suffering.
Water – in memory of being cast into water/drowning (the most well known depiction of water is connected to St. Florian, most commonly pouring out of a pail held in the saint’s hand). It can take the form of little waves (with or without a bridge) in blue or a fish (the sculpture in Vinoř by I. Platzer).  Fish as a symbol for water is less frequently to be found (being also a symbol for keeping silence) but most of all it is a symbol of Christ. As a water symbol, there is usually the conch, rarely a container with water pouring out or, oddly enough, even a water god. Just as representing water with an anchor is less common, it being a symbol for hope, one of the three main Christian virtues (apart from faith, symbolised by the Cross and love, symbolized by the Heart.)

Book – a general symbol for Scripture or learned status. It is most common in evangelists, who can be signified only by the book (the Kladruby Abbey), common in St. Paul and the Church teachers. If a book is used in St. John of Nepomuk, it usually lies near his feet or one of his feet is resting on it (not as a sign of disrespect but as his support) or there is a cap placed on it

Beggar, petitioner – to signify John’s charity, usually, there is a beggar seated at his feet, receiving charity in his capped hands. Alternatively, the beggar is in an adoring position toward John of Nepomuk. A beggar is to be found in other saints, as well: St. Martin, St. Nicolas and others
The Palladium of Stará Boleslav – to commemorate St. John of Nepomuk’s pilgrimage to Stará Boleslav, used less frequently
The Priest’s vestments – that of a clergyman, very typical for St. John of Nepomuk

Cassock or clerical vestments – the black liturgical vestment worn under the gown, with a collar, buttoned up at the front, priests wear black ones, bishops wear violet ones, cardinals wear red ones and the Pope wears a white one
Cap – a symbol of a given office, priests wear square ones
Alb – a long white shirt, it’s the symbol of a body devoted to purity
Rochette – a shortened alb, reaching only below the knees, most common in St. John of Nepomuk
Cincture – with which the alb is worn, tied at the waist, representing salvation, originally in the form of a band. Since 16th century, a string or a rope has been in use. It is usually white in colour or depending on the colour of the chasuble. It represents prudence and purity. It is frequently not there in case of St. John of Nepomuk’s rochette.
Clergyman’s cloak - varium canocicale – cast over the lean shoulders of St. John of Nepomuk, tied up under the collar with a string with tassels
Ring – is a part of a clergyman’s attire, mostly not there in St. John of Nepomuk
St. John of Nepomuk’s Virtues
Judging by the personifications of virtues on the original St. John of Nepomuk’s headstone.
Hope (Spes) – hope in the form of life deliverance at a tumultuous sea and a dove that Noe released from his Arch and which returned with an olive twig
Courage or Strength (Fortitudo) or Mental Strength (Constantia) – wearing armour, with a lion pelt over her shoulder and a helmet, holding a column (or its section)
Silence (Silentium) – forefinger placed across the lips, holding in padlock in the right hand
Faith (Fides catholica) – a figure holding a cross and a communion wafer in her uplifted right hand
Love (Caritas) – the third of the main Christian virtues, found in John of Nepomuk for his love for the fellow man, charity towards the poor and orphans. Love is a figure not fully clothed, nursing a baby, sometimes also in form of a heart.
Fear of the Lord (Timor Domini) or Humility (Devotio) – a figure with the head bent down and wearing a hood over it

The new headstone has in addition the following:

Justice - a figure leaning against a shield and holding a balance.

Divine Wisdom (Divina Sapientia) - a figure holding a book (the Bible) and a burning torch.

by Ing. Karel Drhovský