Prague — human figures are everywhere, part 4

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Ginger

This is the last post on human figures on Prague’s buildings, I promise. (Though not the last on other aspects of Prague’s buildings, to come.)

You may remember the courtly gentleman and lady in yesterday’s post. Today, we have a pair of farmers near the top of this much-painted building.

Here are some close-ups.

I’m sure there’s some allegorical significance in the figures on the next building. The man on the left appears to be holding a hammer; the woman on the right is holding a basket, perhaps for harvesting. But what to make of the central figure? She wears a crown and carries a sword, and the infant beside her has a shield. (Don’t look at me; I’m just the reporter.)

I’m not going to be much help with the next building, either. Perhaps the central figures are Adam and Eve, with a golden apple. At the left, a young man watches a flight of giant swans; at the right, a young father points out some pretty futuristic buildings to his son.

The next building has a row of pictures all along the roofline…

…but what I really want to show you is the lovely naked people (at first I thought they were angels, but that appears to be fabric, not wings) at the corner…

…and (this is really too much) cute little cherub heads in the stonework just below.

Finally, we come to a building whose figures I do understand. And I can get with its program. I cannot vouch for the Hotel Koruna as a hotel, but it appears to be advertising its Happy Hour…

…with Bacchus presiding up above…

…and one of his Bacchae, somewhat disheveled, carrying a jug of wine just below.

Prague — human figures are everywhere, part 3

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Ginger

Everywhere you look in Prague, there are people.

With so many visitors everywhere, even in the off-season, you would hardly think the buildings need to add more people of their own.

But they do. And delightfully so. Today, let’s just take a look at one building.

Up on the top floor there seems to be some kind of motto, flanked by a man and a woman.

I wish I could read it, but the letters are so old-fashioned I can’t quite make them all out.

I do know, however, that the man and woman seem gentle, courteous, well-brought-up. The kind of people you might like to get to know.

And, as if this weren’t enough–take a closer look at the corner of the building.

Here we have a woman framed top and bottom like a saint, offering the ends of her headscarf as if it were some kind of benediction.

Prague — human figures are everywhere, part 2

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Ginger

They are certainly all over the buildings. Here are a few more choice specimens.

A pope or other church official (with admiring cherub)…

Two angels, male and female…

An assortment of men and women sharing the stage…

And even a very learned Rabbi!

The street addresses of Prague

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Ginger

As in many medieval towns, the buildings in Prague haven’t always been identified by numbers. Instead, each building had a sign or symbol of some sort that was its unique identifier. Here, for example, is the Blue Lion.

And the Golden Chalice.

Street numbers were later introduced. At the Sign of the Raven, we can see their evolution.

First, there was the picture of the raven.

Later, street numbers were added (in blue). At some point there was a renumbering (in red), and just in case the passer-by wasn’t sure where he was, the name of the street and the city, and district number, were included in the red sign.

The numbers don’t match. I don’t know why.

At the Green Lobster, there is also a hand-painted number, which is different yet again. I can’t explain this–but I can, and do, enjoy it.

The poet Jan Neruda was born at the Sign of the Two Suns.

…and a beautiful sign it is, too!

Prague: a confession

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Ginger

I don’t know where to start.

Prague is so rich with details–and I, accordingly, am so rich with photographs–that even after two days of editing and weeding, I am overwhelmed. I want to show you this beautiful city, and I don’t know where to start.

So I guess that I am going to pick at random one building–one building only. This will be my single step that is the start of a long journey. I hope you will enjoy taking it with me.

This building would be remarkable in many cities in the world, but as far as I know, it is nothing special in Prague.

But look at the ornamentation.

Two cherubs stand watch over the doorway. Above, an elegant wrought-iron balcony provides rhythm to the facade. The rhythm of the balconies is repeated at the corner.

Note too the exuberance of the architect, who devised strong half-men to help hold the upper balcony.

And at the elaborated roofline, in the place of honor at the corner, another cherub watches over the passers-by.

I’m not saying it belongs in the annals of architectural history, but… I love this building, and this city that contains so many like it.

Prague — human figures are everywhere

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Ginger

When I say, “Human figures are everywhere,” I am not referring to the tourists. Though heaven knows, we tourists are certainly everywhere, too. But in Prague there are people all over the buildings. Around doorways and windows, holding up balconies (often with great difficulty), preaching from rooftops.

Squat and rather plain buildings take on an unexpected grace.

In corners, on rooftops, and right at street level we can find angels in human form with wings, hugely muscled men, gracefully draped women as well as naked ones, and even babies.