Page 130 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

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4 Church of St Nicholas

Kostel Sv. Mikuláše
The Church of St Nicholas divides and dominates the two sections
of Little Quarter Square. Building began in 1703, and the last
touches were put to the glorious frescoed nave in 1761. It
is the acknowledged masterpiece of father-and-son
architects Christoph and Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer,
Prague’s greatest exponents of the High Baroque style,
although neither lived to see the completion of the
magnificent church. The statues, frescoes and paintings
inside the building are by leading artists of the day, and
include a fine Crucifixion of 1646 by Karel Škréta. Extensive
renovation in the 1950s reversed the damage caused by Altar Paintings
200 years of leaky cladding and condensation. The side chapels hold many works
of art. This painting of St Michael
is by Francesco Solimena.

. Pulpit
Dating from 1765, the ornate pulpit is by
Richard and Peter Prachner. It is lavishly
adorned with golden cherubs.

KEY
1 Chapel of St Ann
2 The curving façade has a
number of statues, one of which is
St Paul, by John Frederick Kohl. The
façade was completed in 1710 by Entrance from west side
Christoph Dientzenhofer, who was of Little Quarter Square
influenced by Italian architects
Borromini and Guarini.
3 The dome was completed by
Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer in 1751, Baroque Organ
shortly before his death. A fresco of St Cecilia,
4 The belfry, added in 1751–6, was patron saint of music,
the last part to be built. It houses a watches over the
museum of musical instruments. superb organ.
Built in 1746, the
5 Chapel of St Francis Xavier instrument was
6 Chapel of St Catherine played by Mozart
in 1787.

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.2)
Date 23rd October 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm