sousoší sv. Luitgardy - 110 00

St. Luitgarda pillar # 12, southern side (the bridge side facing the river flow). Author: Matyáš Bernard Braun, donor: the abbot of monastery in Plasy (copies of B. Rak and J. Novák, 1995, original is hidden in Prague´s Lapidarium). The sculpture is considered to be the highest quality art work on the bridge. It shows the vision of the blind Flemish nun Luitgarda. This is the first known work of M. B. Braun in Bohemia (at that time he was just 26 years old). The sculpture represents the St. Luigwarda who had a dream (soon before she died) in which crucified Jesus appeared to her, embraced her and exchanged his heart with her. Saint Luigtard lived at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries in Belgium. The last 12 years of her life she was blind. (dwltHV) St. Luitgarda Pillar No. 12, south side (guidance). Author: Matyáš Bernard Braun in 1720, donor: abbot of Plasky Evžen Tyttl (copy by B. Rak and J. Novák, 1995, original in Lapidary) The sculptural group is considered to be the most artistically high-quality work on the bridge. It shows a vision of the blind Flemish nun of St. Luitgardy. This is the first known work of M. B. Braun in Bohemia (he was then 26 years old). The sculptural group represents St. Luitgard, who had been crucified before his death by Jesus, embraced her and exchanged hearts with her. Saint Luitgard lived in Belgium at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries. She entered the order at the call of Christ. She was blind for the last 12 years of her life. Before her death, it was Christ who appeared to her in a dream. (slvHV)

Thousands of Prague citizens and tourists literally cross the Charles Bridge every day. And certainly a few of them are watching a gallery of statues placed here. And one of them, on the 12th pillar, inspires admiration. It is a sculpture of Saint Luitgard (several variants of this name) by Master Matthias Bernard Braun. Details of her can be found in reviews by Roman Pauler and Walter. Not every onlooker knows he is looking at a copy. Of course a faithful and beautiful copy. The original is stored in the Lapidarium of the National Museum.

A crack was found in the pillar of the bridge. The sculptural group (it is a copy from 1995, placed here in 1996) was therefore demolished on 5 June 2020 and will be temporarily stored in the depository of the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague. This will be followed by the preparation of the project and then the repair itself.