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

Northern European

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