Thursday 25 November 2010

Pride, Strength, Honour, Knowledge? What does it all mean?


ZOOM IN and you see the shield for the Italian Embassy (Ambasciata d'Italia) and some incredible wrought-iron work in an arch.

ZOOM OUT a bit and you see two enormous eagles contorted around a door frame in a position that signifies strength and pride.

ZOOM ALL THE WAY OUT and you see a fabulous metal door decorated with intricate details, the two attentive and proud eagles AND two gentlemen (well, sculptures of them!) sitting on giant scrolls high above the door. Honestly, I don't know if I would be scared or honored to walk through this door...what does it all mean??

I honestly doubt that when the Italian Embassy decided to use this location that it changed the door or its frame (sure, they very likely had it all cleaned and repaired, but not changed)...so what exactly this door, it's frame and sculptures (and the additional smaller side doors on each side of this main door) saw and represented before, I don't know. If I knew something I would tell you, but unfortunately I don't though I will make the simple and rather obvious assumption that this building's original function was either in connection with the church (remember the Clementinum) or having to do with education (university), which, in the end comes back to church since in the past, scholars always had some connection to the church.

5 comments:

Pat Tillett said...

Amazing detail work on this!
Very nice photos also...
Thanks!

Malyss said...

One thing is sure: this door is telling about money, and power!

jo said...

There is no end to it, is there? How many have you 'done' now? And are you halfway? What a city. The one today is simply gorgeous, and your pictures enlarged are flawless. You do seem to have more than your fair share of good weather.
BTW, you were the star of my 'show' :-)

Anonymous said...

Hey, I am checking this blog using the phone and this appears to be kind of odd. Thought you'd wish to know. This is a great write-up nevertheless, did not mess that up.

- David

Anonymous said...

It was built as a palace for a nobility family, actually. The sculptures of the eagles etc. are from 18th century, work of Matthian Braun, who have sculptures on the Charles Bridge, at Kuks, etc.

- Pav from Prague