It is nearly 300 years old and stands almost unnoticed in the shadow of the buildings on Senatorska Street. Who is it? The stone statue of St John of Nepomuk, one of the most valuable monuments of Warsaw’s Baroque era. The sculpture has survived many events, including the city’s destruction during the war, and today stands as a reminder of a world that no longer exists.
A Baroque endowment by the Mniszch family
The statue of St John of Nepomuk at 40 Senatorska Street is one of the oldest surviving freestanding monuments in Warsaw. It was erected in 1733, just four years after the canonisation of the Czech clergyman, which was announced in 1729. Its patrons were Józef Wandalin Mniszech, Grand Marshal of the Crown and Castellan of Kraków, and his wife Konstancja née Tarłów. The sculpture was erected in front of the main gate of the Mniszech Palace, which now houses the Belgian Embassy. The monument emphasised the religious devotion of the residence’s owners, whilst also enhancing the prestige of the entire palace complex.
John of Nepomuk: the mystery of the artist and the symbolism
For many years, the Italian sculptor Giovanni Cieverotti was regarded as the creator of the statue, and the date of its creation was given as 1731. It was only during conservation work carried out in 2004 that a lead foundation plaque was discovered in the plinth. The discovery confirmed that the work was by Giovanni Liverotti of Lucca, and that the sculpture was completed two years later than previously thought. The statue depicts St John of Nepomuk holding a crucifix, wearing a biretta and a cassock, and with a halo of five stars, alluding to the legend of his martyrdom in the Vltava River. For centuries, the saint has been recognised as the patron saint of travellers, bridges, crossings, confessors, those threatened by flooding, and the defenders of one’s good name.
The monument at the former boundary of Warsaw
The statue’s original location was no accident. In the first half of the 18th century, the Sigismund Embankments ran through this area, marking the boundary of Warsaw’s densely built-up area. Beyond this lay a road running along Twarda and Grójecka Streets towards Grójec and Kraków. Saint John of Nepomuk was intended to symbolically bid farewell to the residents, merchants and pilgrims leaving the city. Contemporary researchers believe that the statue originally stood directly in front of the palace gate, and was later moved during the redevelopment of the surrounding area. However, it remained associated with the Mniszech residence throughout this time.
John of Nepomuk on Senatorska Street
The sculpture was carved from stone and set upon a tall Baroque plinth decorated with bas-reliefs depicting the four cardinal virtues: Justitia, Prudentia, Temperantia and Fortitudo. In addition, it features the coats of arms of the founders and scenes relating to the saint’s life. The statue survived the Second World War, even though the surrounding area was almost completely destroyed during the Warsaw Uprising and the subsequent demolition of the city by the Germans. Today, it is listed as a historic monument and is under the care of the conservator. Of the four historic statues of St John of Nepomuk in Warsaw, the one on Senatorska Street is considered the oldest and the most outstanding in terms of artistic value.
source: warszawa1939.pl, warszawska.info
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