Prague – Hradčany: The statue of Maria Theresa has been unveiled, it also exists virtually
The ceremonial revelations were accompanied by strict security measures. “We ask for all present, keep the distances, do not crowd otherwise we will not be able to start and we will be forced to dissolve the event, “repeated Deputy Mayor Jan Lacina (STAN) tirelessly, until all present really parted. The police also oversaw the unveiling of the statue.
When all present managed to find their place corresponding to the distance from the others, the ceremonial unveiling could begin, which was attended by the Mayor of Prague 6 Ondřej Kolář (TOP 09), his other deputy mayor Jakub Stárek (ODS) and of course the author of the work Jan Kovářík.
The date was not selected by chance
City Hall did not plan a date for the revelation on October 20. “Exactly on this day in 1740, Maria Theresa ascended the Austrian throne, “Lacina explained.” Maria Theresa was the only woman on the Czech throne and to this day she has no statue in the whole of the Czech Republic. Her character is controversial, but she has done many important things that we draw from so far. For example, education reform, and therefore I believe that this important queen deserves her statueLacina added.
The city district of Prague 6 has unveiled a controversial statue of Maria Theresa. The statue is located in the park of the same name in Hradčany, near the entrance to the Blanka tunnel
Author: ČTK / Deml Ondřej
“We are aware that the personality of Maria Theresa and her statue arouse debate, and we are really happy about that. It forces people to think more about Maria Theresa to study it in more detailt, “said the deputy mayor of the city district Jakub Stárek. “We are living in a strange time now, so we decided to create a digital twin of this sculpture, which will be on display on the Prague 6 website,” added Stárek.
Virtual tourism
And indeed, on the website, those interested can view the website from all sides and in the greatest possible detail. You can even look inside the statue. In addition, it is possible to comment on the statue. On the one hand, on the history of the reign of the important queen, on the other hand, on the process of making her statue. This virtual spectacle is also the first part of a new project to support virtual tourism in Prague 6, which the city district decided to start due to the complicated situation not only in tourism caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
7-ton colossus without a face
The statue itself is 5.5 meters high and weighs 7 tons. “We chose a relatively unique material for the production of the sculpture – lightweight concrete with a special anti-graffiti coating. CTU also helped us significantly with the production and testing of this material, without them we probably couldn’t do it at all, “Jan Kovářík described the complexities of production.
“The statue was created in the last three years. We really had to step by step. First we started with a 1:10 model, then 1: 5 until we got to the final 1: 1 model. The sculpture also consists of 80 partswhich had to be transported to the place, “added the sculptor.
The public often criticizes the statue also because it lacks a face according to which it would be clear that it was Maria Theresa. “By not giving the statue this face, we wanted to symbolically highlight the majesty of the queen and of course to provoke a discussion, “explains Kovářík.
The fact that a monument to Maria Theresa will be erected in the park next to the entrance to the Blanka tunnel in Hradčany has been talked about for six years. In 2013, Prague 6 announced the competition for the sculpture and announced the results in April 2014. However, the City Hall also faced criticism from the professional and lay public, because near the new monument there is a monument to Václav Morávek in Morávka park.
A member of the famous Three Kings died in these places during the shootout, and before the town hall began to deal with the creation of the monument to Maria Theresa, the whole park under the walls bore his name. “I’m just a little confused by the fact that, unlike Václav Morávek, he has no connection with this place, ”Said Jiří Padevět, a researcher and director of the Academia publishing house, some time ago at the address of Maria Theresa. “But in any case, I think so Vaclav Morávek was a gentleman and he wouldn’t mind a similar neighborhood, “he added amicably.
History
Maria Theresa of the Habsburg dynasty was the Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia. She ruled in the Habsburg monarchy from 1740 to 1780. During her reign reformed the state administration, army or education. The General School Regulations, issued in 1774, introduced the monarch, among other things, a general educational obligation for both boys and girls. The Enlightenment reforms were later followed by the son of Queen Joseph II.
The city district of Prague 6 has unveiled a controversial statue of Maria Theresa. The statue is located in the park of the same name in Hradčany, near the entrance to the Blanka tunnel
Author: ČTK / Deml Ondřej