Socha svatého Jana Nepomuckého (Heřmanův Městec) Statue

Welcome to Masaryk Square in Høman City. You're standing in front of one of the most important symbols of this place, the Baroque sandstone statue of St. John Nepomuk. Before you go any further, I suggest you stop and just observe. Feel the atmosphere of this square where history meets the present. In front of your eyes is a work that has been here for over 300 years and which carries the incredible power of ancient art. This sandstone, from which the statue is carved, has a special texture that changes depending on how the light hits it. It's a material that is alive, that breathes and tells us a story about a time that flows relentlessly.

Now let's go back deep into the past together to understand why this work is here. Imagine the year seven hundred twenty-two nine. The world around us was quite different, people lived in a different rhythm and their view of the world was strongly influenced by the faith and art of the baroque. It was this year that this statue was erected in this place. Although it is no longer known who was the exact author of this work, its championship is evident in every carved detail. The artist who shaped this stone must have had incredible patience and a sense of material. This statue wasn't built at random. We knew that it had its fixed place within the overall balance of the square. In fact, there was an older statue of St. Wenceslas before him for several years, namely from the year seven hundred twenty-two and three. This newer statue of St. John was thus created as a visual counterpart to obtain its proper balance, dignity and harmony. It was a deliberate work that was meant to connect different figures and create a space that seemed coherent and harmonious.

Now pay attention to the work itself and try to look at it in more detail. I suggest you slowly shift the view from the ground itself upwards. You'll see two smaller characters at the holy feet. They are angels who seem to be part of the celestial events and who accompany the saint in his ascension. Then look above, where the character itself begins to float. See those clouds? The entire composition is designed so that Saint John is not only a static object, but to act as if he was floating in the celestial spheres. The saint is depicted in life-size, which means that his presence here is very strong and almost like the presence of a living person standing right in front of you. Notice his clothes. It is dressed in a garment with rich eyelash, which is a typical sign of baroque style, who loved movement, dynamics and the game of light and shadow on the surface of the stone. The Holy One holds a crucifix in his arms, a symbol of his deep faith and sacrifice. This whole sandstone work is proof of incredible skill, even though the name of the creator remains hidden in history.

Did you know that this object is very rare to us and we have to take care of it? Since the year one thousand nine hundred sixty-four, this statue has been protected as a real cultural monument. This means that its value for our city and for the whole nation is recognised and provided by law. In order to serve future generations, this sandstone had to go through care. In the year two thousand fifteen, the entire sculpture was renovated. This work was necessary to preserve the beauty and integrity of the details you see right now. Thanks to this renewal, we can monitor the purity of the lines and the preservation of the fine algae on the holy garment.

And now I'm going to tell you something that you can't see at first sight that can impress anyone who looks at this work with more curiosity. If you had the opportunity to go around this pillar and look at its back side, you would encounter a secret. There's a sign that contains a so-called chronogram. It is a fascinating way that ancient masters were able to draw the hidden message directly into the work itself. This inscription contains letters bearing hidden numerical values. In this way the artist had carved out the year of the creation of the work, but he did so so that a attentive observer must come to him. It's like a hidden code that connects art to mathematics and that waits for anyone who wants to search for more than just what you can see at first sight.

This statue of St. John Nepomuk is not just a stone object. He's a witness to history who saw the city change over the centuries. He stood here during wars, during peaceful times and during the great changes brought about by modern age. Yet it still stands here, firm and unwavering, as a reminder of our roots and our cultural heritage.

Now that you know the story of this monument, its history and its hidden secrets, I suggest you continue your walk around the City of Høman. Let yourself be carried away by the beauty of the square and pay attention to other details offered by this city. Every stone and every building here has their own story waiting to be discovered. Thank you for stopping by to devote your time to this historic monument. We wish you a beautiful and inspiring walk around our city.