Lot 66

Bohuslav Schnirch (1845 - 1901) SUBMISSION TO THE ST. WENCESLAS MONUMENT COMPETITION

The style in which St. Wenceslas is portrayed here is based in Classicism and Renaissance Revival, approaching highly realistic details of the figure. The horse under the rider evokes the impression that it has just halted in its tracks so that St. Wenceslas, wearing his traditional insignia, may bless the people. In the competition for the future statue dominating Wenceslas Square, Bohuslav Schnirch was a close contender to Josef Václav Myslbek. Whereas Schnirch opted to depict a saint blessing the masses (in other designs Wenceslas has a halo), Myslbek chose to show St. Wenceslas in full armor, which met with success.