Three statues from the Prague Astronomical Clock, namely Saint Philip, Thomas, and Jude Thaddeus, are set to undergo repairs after being vandalized last year. The damaged statues will be removed on Tuesday, May 30, and entrusted to restorers for a period of two to three weeks. The vandalism occurred when vandals broke the glass in the area of the Old Town Hall, resulting in damage to the statues.

According to a press release, the restoration process is estimated to take approximately two to three weeks. While the clock will continue to operate during this time, the three windows housing the damaged saints will be empty.

Deputy Mayor for Culture and Heritage Care, Jiří Pospíšil (TOP 09), strongly condemned the destruction of historical and cultural monuments, expressing his complete lack of understanding for such behavior. Given the global significance of the Prague Astronomical Clock, Pospíšil emphasized the importance of preserving and protecting such rare and valuable landmarks. He expressed confidence that once the restoration is complete, no visible damage will remain on the statues. The restoration, including the necessary materials, is estimated to cost around 35,000 Czech korun (without VAT).

This is not the first controversy surrounding the Prague Astronomical Clock in recent years. In 2018, the clock underwent extensive reconstruction, including the restoration of the Mánes Calendar. However, concerns were raised last year regarding noticeable differences between the restored calendar and the original. The Club For Old Prague even filed a complaint with the Monument Inspection, highlighting the discrepancies.

In response, the municipality made the decision to replace the restoration work by academic painter Stanislav Jirčík and initiated a technical and artistic analysis of the current calendar. The municipality has also approached respected restorers with expertise in the works of Josef Mánes to commission a new calendar piece, ensuring the preservation of the clock’s historical and artistic integrity.

Article by Prague Forum