Pomník Otilie Sklenářové-Malé Monument

Welcome to one of the most beautiful corners of our metropolis. You have just stopped in pleasant Celakov orchards, which lie close to the spectacular National Museum. Feel this moment, feel the calm that rules here, and look straight ahead. In front of your eyes is a work that combines the beauty of nature and the power of human art. You see a white marble monument in front of you, bearing some nobility and peace. This figure, carved out of pure, bright stone, seems almost alive, as if she had just stepped out of an invisible scene and come to rest in the arms of these trees. Feel the contrast between the lightness of marble and the greenery of the surrounding gardens. It's a look that encourages you to think about how art can capture a human soul and preserve it for future generations.

Let us now look together deeper beneath the surface of this stone work and find out why this very place is here and why this woman was chosen to be worshipped forever. This monument is not just an ornament to the park, it is a monument to one of the most important figures of our dramatic art. It's about Otillie Glass-Little. It was a woman whose voice and presence on the scene were able to control the viewer's attention. This monument was created in the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-three, at a time when our country formed and sought its own faces and heroes. The author of this wonderful work is the sculptor Ladislav Šaloun. His work here speaks for itself. The whole process of the creation of this work was associated with great respect when the seventh of May in the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-three took place a solemn revelation, which must have been a great moment for all art lovers. The memorial was created as a token of gratitude for her merit and for her deep patriotism that she carried throughout her life.

Now pay attention to the details you have right in front of you. Notice how the statue works with space. It's created in life-size, which means that her presence is very strong and she acts like a real person standing right next to you. Watch as the light breaks on the smooth surface of white marble. Look at her clothes. The character is wearing a long, heavy coat, which gives her dignity and at the same time suggests a certain depth of the story that she is experiencing. He's holding a lime branch in his hand. Notice the softness with which this branch is carved. Lipa is a symbol, a symbol of nation and strength, and this branch gives the whole character an unrepeatable character. The whole statue captures Otilia in one of her most important roles. He is the character of Hermione from a theatrical work known as Winter Fairy by a famous author. Thanks to Ladislav Šaloun's capture at this very moment, you can see not only the actress but also the deep emotion of the character she embodied in her expression. The whole work is built on a low granite plinth, which provides with darker color and strength a perfect basis for light marble. On this plinth you will find inscriptions that are dedicated to this extraordinary woman and remind us of her name and her meaning.

When you look at this statue, you look at the connection of two great personalities. On the one hand is Otilie Sklenářová-Malá, a woman who shaped our cultural perception with her work in the theatre. On the other hand is Ladislav Šaloun, an artist who could turn a stone into an emotion. This collaboration between the spirit of artistic expression and the hand of the sculptor master has created a monument that resists time. Otilie wasn't just an actress; It was a woman who, with her love for her country and her work in the dramatic arts, built national heroism in every gesture and every word. Her life was linked to a time when our culture sought its own independence and expression, and this monument is its lasting proof.

You may now wonder why this monument is located right here in these particular orchards. Why not some other place downtown? There is one very interesting thing that gives this place an almost magical atmosphere. Before these gardens were in the form you know today, there was a wooden theatre in this very place. It is a fascinating idea that an actress who has dedicated her whole life to the scene is now revered where the heart of the theatre world once beat. It's as if history is returning to its place and as if the spirit of the theatre is still circling these gardens. So this monument is not just near the theatre, it is in the heart of the former theatre space.

I hope this brief moment at the memorial of Otilia Glasser-Little stopped you and brought you a feeling of connection to the history of our art. Feel the beauty of these gardens and be inspired by the beauty you see around you. Prague offers endless stories hidden in stone and architecture. Continue to walk, discover more secrets and enjoy every moment in the city that so richly speaks through its sights. Thank you for your attention and I wish you the rest of the day on your next survey.