Postal Calvary Sculpture, Charles Bridge, Prague

"Calvary Sculpture, Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic" by Catherine Sherman. A crucifixion statue of Jesus Christ is prominently displayed on a stone base, flanked by the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist on the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic. The structure, called Calvary, features golden Hebrew script and detailed sculptural elements, set against a partly cloudy sky. Calvary is installed on the third pillar of the north side of the Charles Bridge. The first cross, which was wood, was erected on the Charles bridge in the 14th century. The main statue of the Jesus on the cross was cast in bronze by Hans Hillger in Dresden, Germany, after the model made by sculptor Wolf Ernst Brohn in 1628, in an early baroque style. The statue was set on the Charles bridge in 1657. Calvary hill was made of stone by the sculptor Johann Georg Heermann in 1707. Both side statues of Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist, were added by Emanuel Max in 1861. The thirty statues on the bridge are mounted to the bridge's balustrade. They form two rows, one on each side. Damage caused to the statues over many years has resulted in many of the originals being replaced by copies. The avenue of 30 mostly Baroque statues and statuaries situated on the balustrade forms a unique connection of artistic styles with the underlying Gothic bridge. Most sculptures were erected between 1683 and 1714. They depict various Catholic saints and patron saints venerated at that time. The most prominent Bohemian sculptors of the time took part in decorating the bridge, such as Matthias Braun, Jan Brokoff, and his sons Michael Joseph and Ferdinand Maxmilian. The Charles Bridge is a medieval stone arch bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the early 15th century. The bridge replaced the old Judith Bridge built 1158–1172 that had been badly damaged by a flood in 1342. This new bridge was originally called Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) or Prague Bridge (Pražský most), but has been referred to as "Charles Bridge" since 1870.