A Saint on a Bridge
Order of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star in cooperation with the Charles Bridge Museum are preparing an exposition and along with the John Nepomuk Celebrations to mark the occasion of the 280th anniversary since this Saint’s canonization.
The exposition will be entitled “A Saint on a Bridge” and it will take place in the Charles Bridge Museum at the Křížovnické Square between May 15 and August 31, 2009. The project’s goal is to increase on the awareness of John Nepomuk and his moral message to the mostly secular Czech population. Apart from the devotional aspects, the event is also an excellent opportunity to spread cultural awareness among the Czech and foreign public. Order of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star since its formation in the first half of the 13th century has been closely connected to Judith’s and later on Charles Bridge, as well. It was on the most important supporters of Nepomuk’s canonization and his art collections contain a series of precious works of art whose making was initiated by this Saint’s legend.
The exposition itself, apart from presenting the art objects, is focused on the happenings in John’s life and the subsequent spread of his cult in the Czech lands and abroad alike. Special attention will be paid to the Nepomuk legend, post Battle of the White Mountain events, John’s beatification and the subsequent canonization or the perception of this message through the anticlerical society of the 19th century Czech Enlightenment supporters. We intend to present St. John Nepomuk to the nation wide public not only as a mediaeval martyr, canonized in the age of high Baroque, a period still perceived in a rather stereotypical fashion, but above all as a theological, social and cultural phenomenon unparalleled in Bohemia. The other path for our efforts will be routed along the lines of presenting John Nepomuk as a popular Saint and a symbol of not only the Czech country folks.
The exposition is being prepared in the cooperation with prominent Czech experts from among historians and art historians. The authors of the exposition content are Prof. PhDr. Vít Vlnas, Ph.D., Prof. PhDr. et Ing. Jan Royt, Mgr. Vladimír Kellnar, Mgr. Marek Pučalík and Mgr. Pavla Státníková. The exposition designer is Ak. arch. Emil Zavadil, the curator is Miroslav Kindl from the Charles Bridge Museum. The project has also been awarded the patronage of the Mayor of the Capital City of Prague, Mr. Pavel Bém, and the patronage of His Eminence Cardinal Miloslav Vlk.