Šaloun's Hus has been looking down on the Old Town Square for 95 years

Prague - 95 years ago, a monument to Master Jan Hus was unveiled in the Old Town Square in Prague. The work of sculptor Ladislav Šaloun, now perceived as a natural part of this space, faced criticism at the time of its creation.
The impetus for the establishment of the monument came in November 1889 during discussions in the provincial assembly regarding the placement of a memorial plaque for Hus on the building of the National Museum. However, when the nobleman Karel Schwarzenberg labeled the Hussites as a "gang of robbers and arsonists," this not only triggered a strongly dissenting reaction from his opponents but also led to the decision to erect a full monument in place of just a plaque.
The first competition for the design of the monument was announced in 1891. The winning design by Vilím Amort was intended to be placed in the Little Square, but ultimately was not realized. In the second competition, which already counted on installation in the Old Town Square, the tandem of Ladislav Šaloun and Antonín Pfeifer won in January 1901. It is interesting to note that Šaloun, like many others, was not enthusiastic about the chosen location and would have preferred to place his work in Charles Square.
In the summer of 1903, the foundation stone of the monument was laid, but the disputes over its design continued afterwards. It wasn't just artistic disputes; discussions significantly reflected the differing visions of the involved personalities regarding Czech national history. Šaloun's original design, which depicted Hus on the border with his head bowed, gradually changed until it took on its present form.
The monument was handed over to the public in July 1915. However, the completion of the monument only took place after the war, when it was supplemented with inscriptions, fire bowls, and railings.