At the Krakovec Castle, they unveiled a seated statue of John Huss

Krakovec (Rakovnicko) - At the Krakovec Castle in the Rakovnicko region, a statue of Master Jan Hus was ceremonially unveiled, marking 596 years since his execution by fire. The preacher, as depicted by sculptor Milan Vácha, is captured sitting down, unlike traditional portrayals. He lacks the typical beard and appears somewhat plump.
      Vácha reportedly aimed for a more civilian and realistic likeness. The image of a taller, ascetic man with a beard, according to him, originates from Mikoláš Aleš. Many people associate Hus with actor Zdeněk Štěpánek, who portrayed this historical figure in the famous film by Otakar Vávra, the artist noted.
      Krakovec, still considerably distant from civilization today, was the last place of Hus's residence before his departure to Constance. Vácha's Hus sits on a slope beneath the castle, contemplating himself and his plight. The nearly two-ton statue of the preacher in a sitting position is likely the only one of its kind. Artists typically depict Hus preaching while standing. According to Vácha, the reason was also that the work could not exceed 1.8 meters in height so as not to obstruct the view of the castle in the background.
      The statue was installed at Krakovec on Saturday, lifted into the slope by a long arm of a crane. According to Vácha, the installation was not demanding; he has experienced much more complicated actions. "I have been sculpting for 45 years and I have installed statues by helicopter," he told ČTK. Using a helicopter, he installed, for example, a three-meter replica of the statue of Saint Wenceslas in the Zbraslav gallery. "We were also standing on shaky scaffolding back then," the artist pointed out.
      According to Deputy Governor Marcel Chládek, around 2000 to 2500 people attended today’s ceremonial unveiling. The statue, which is situated in a difficult-to-access terrain, was well received by visitors. "It went off to everyone's satisfaction; no one was injured," the deputy added.
      The Central Bohemian Region paid one million crowns for the statue of Hus at Krakovec, with another approximately 300,000 crowns required for the surrounding adjustments. The statue's placement near the castle is intended to boost tourism in the region, which is one of the poorest in Central Bohemia. Currently, Krakovec attracts around 20,000 visitors annually.
      Hus criticized ecclesiastical practices in his sermons and demanded a return to a poor church, for which he earned anathema. Before the conciliar court in Constance, he refused to recant his teachings, and as a heretic, he was burned at the stake on July 6, 1415.