BOHUMIL KAFKA (Prague, 1878 - 1942). "Jan Ziza on horseback", 1932. Bronze. Signed and dated on the

BOHUMIL KAFKA (Prague, 1878 - 1942).
"Jan Ziza on horseback", 1932.
Bronze.
Signed and dated on the base.
It was included in the exhibition: "European sculpture of the 20th century", European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM), Barcelona, 2014.
Measurements: 97 x 95 x 38 cm.
High-quality equestrian sculpture, a scale version of the monument that Bohumil Kafka made to pay homage to the military man Jan Zizka, located on Vitkov Hill in Prague, where the battle it commemorates took place. Bohumil Kafka was a Czech sculptor and educator. He studied in Prague with the sculptor Josef Václav Myslbek before moving to Vienna and then to Paris to continue his studies. He worked in London, Berlin and Rome before returning and settling in Prague. He often worked in a symbolist and expressive style. He was a notable animalist, as well as being known for his decorative sculpture. He is considered a predecessor of the Art Nouveau style and was greatly influenced by the works of Auguste Rodin.
Jan Zizka (1360-1424) fought at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. Zizka became the leader of the Hussite army, made up of peasants and farmers. He won victory over the crusaders sent to destroy the Hussite movement.
It is said that during World War II the Germans sought the model of this statue in order to destroy it. The model was cut into pieces and hidden in many different places. After the war, the pieces were put back together and the statue was put up again.