Sculpture of St. Philip Benizi

The sculpture of St. Philip Benizi was carved by Austrian sculptor Michael Bernhard Mandl in Salzburg; the finished sculpture was brought to Prague in 1714. It was commissioned by the Order of the Servites of New Town, with Prince Adam Andreas of Liechtenstein as the donor (St. Philip, a religious reformer, used to be the superior of the order). The Liechtensteins also funded the restoration of the sculpture in 2000. The saint, clad in a robe of heavily draped fabric, is gazing up to heaven; his left hand holds a bouquet of lilies, while his right hand, with fingers spread, rests on his chest in a gesture of humility. The papal tiara at his feet recalls Benizi’s modest refusal of the papal office. It’s the only statue on Charles Bridge carved from marble, specifically white coarse-grained limestone. The pedestal is a modern copy, made of Božanov sandstone.