Circle of Christian Jorhan the Elder 1727–1804
St John Nepomuk
Details
Artist
Circle of Christian Jorhan the Elder 1727–1804
Title
St John Nepomuk
Date
About 1770
Medium
Polychrome on oak
Dimensions
Whole: height: 910 mm Whole: width: 490 mm Whole: depth: 210 mm
Reference
CVCSC:0188.N
Collection
Status
On Display
Saint John of Nepomuk (1345-93) was a Canon of Prague Cathedral. He was killed by King Wenceslas IV of Bohemia for refusing to divulge the Queen’s confession. Although he was not canonised until 1729, he had by then already attracted a cult following. This small sculpture would have been used for private devotion at home rather than in a public setting, and its flat back means that it would have fitted into a niche.
Circle of Christian Jorhan the Elder St John Nepomuk About 1770 © Compton Verney, photo by Jamie Woodley