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Equestrian statue of Courage / Jobst of Moravia.
Point 7 of 70 of 7 completed
An impossible horse called Courage
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49.1989, 16.6083
On arrival
Approach the large bronze equestrian sculpture on Moravské náměstí from the paved square around St Thomas church.
Look closer
Compare the horse's extremely elongated legs with the rider and notice how the sculpture rises directly from pavement level without a conventional plinth.
When distortion is deliberate, the right question is not 'is this accurate?' but 'what kind of statement is the artist making?'
Finish with a work that makes no attempt to hide its distortion. Jaroslav Róna's 2015 bronze equestrian sculpture honours Jobst of Moravia but is also an allegory of Courage, one of four virtues used to structure this part of Moravské náměstí. The city description explicitly notes its oversized and disproportionate elements and its unusual placement directly at pavement level. In other words, the horse is not anatomically 'wrong' because somebody failed to measure one. Its impossible legs belong to a contemporary artistic language. That makes it a useful final lesson: evidence is not only about proving historical events. Sometimes it is about identifying the creator's stated intention so we do not mistake a deliberate metaphor for a factual error.
Accessibility at this stop
The sculpture is visible from the level public square. It can be appreciated without moving underneath or touching the work.
These notes describe known conditions at this stop. Urban conditions can change, so assess the situation on site.
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7. An impossible horse called Courage
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