In Brno, the equestrian statue of John of Luxembourg was unveiled

photo: Eva Hroudná

Brno - About 500 people came today to Brno's Moravian Square to witness the ceremonial unveiling of the equestrian statue of Margrave Jobst of Luxembourg. The eight-meter work, weighing four tons, cost the city nearly seven million crowns to produce and was a challenge for the author Jaroslav Róna. According to him, the equestrian statue is a classic theme, and it is hard to find a new and beneficial approach.
    The horse with the rider stands in front of St. Thomas Church, where Jobst is buried. The statue is also interesting in that the horse with the rider does not stand on a pedestal. The horse's approximately four-meter legs are anchored directly into the square's pavement, allowing people to walk freely beneath them. Some people like the statue, while others criticize it and compare the horse more to a giraffe. "Sometimes I feel that many people haven't noticed that there was a history of modern art that experimented and underwent various transformations of states and ideas. I come after this period and try to incorporate its elements along with elements of classicism, which viewers should appreciate more," Róna stated.
    According to him, lifting the rider to a height is very elegant and new in equestrian sculpture. "I maximally raised the center of gravity, used a round shield to evoke the sun from a distance, creating a kind of gateway. So it is a peculiar organic gate, something between a sculpture and architecture," Róna explained. By omitting the pedestal, he aimed to bring the work closer to the people. "I removed the statue's pathos. I like it when a statue doesn't have appendages and stands alone on the ground. It comes off playfully," Róna added.
    The ceremonial unveiling was not missed by actress Eva Holubová, who greatly values Róna's work, besides city representatives. "He is a great artist, and I would say he is world-class. Brno is a world city, so I wish Brno well for having a statue by one of the best artists," Holubová told ČTK.
    Róna worked on the statue with his team for about three years. "There were about five bronze casters, two plasterers, one structural engineer, and one blacksmith in the team, but there were also accountants, climbers, crane operators, and transporters," Róna added.
    Jobst's statue is an allegory of Courage and complements the current allegorical elements in the square according to the Greek philosopher Plato. The statue in front of the Supreme Administrative Court represents Justice, the fountain represents Temperance, and the model of the map represents Prudence.
    There is already one statue of Jobst in today's Moravian Square, a few meters from where the modern one stands. The ruler in stone form supports the entrance to the former governor's building.
    Jobst lived from 1351 to 1411. He was the son of the Moravian Margrave John Henry and the nephew of the Czech king and Roman emperor Charles IV. According to historians, he was one of the greatest politicians born in Moravia. He inherited the title of Moravian Margrave from his father and was elected Roman king in 1410, but soon afterward he died. During his reign, he revived the mint in Brno and was known for his learning and erudition.