Lesser Town Bridge Towers
by Pedro L Gili
Title
Lesser Town Bridge Towers
Artist
Pedro L Gili
Medium
Digital Art - Custom Texturized Digital Art
Description
Essentially, the tower at the western end of the Charles bridge, in Prague, comprises two towers of different appearance, origin and size. The smaller of the towers was erected in the Romanesque style. It was part of the Judith Bridge (which was Prague's first stone bridge built in the first half of the 12th century) but it is actually older. The first references to the tower date back to 1249. The second, taller tower began to be erected with the construction of Charles Bridge in 1357 using the Old Town Bridge Tower on the opposite bank of the river as a template. Naturally, it was not finished until a century later under the reign of George of Poděbrady. Both towers are linked by a gate with a spire dating from the beginning of the 15th century. From the beginning of the 15th century, the smaller tower (the so-called Judith Tower) was used as a jail and it retained this role for another two hundred years. The customs authority was based in the tower from 1591 to 1784. The entrance to the tower is from the passageway of building no. 56, which was the headquarters of the Prague Bridge Authority and the imperial Salt Authority. In the same year in which the customhouse was established, the tower was also refurbished in a Renaissance style. An important set of engravings from the middle of the 13th century has been preserved in the tower's vaults. These depict human figures, animals and weapons, an eight-pointed star and several noble coats of arms. The highest of the towers is the youngest part of the entire Charles Bridge. It was primarily used as a storehouse and, because of its spatial layout, it also served as a watchtower like the tower at St. Nicholas Cathedral or on the Old Town Square.
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Note: The "Fine Art America" watermark does not appear in the final print.
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Uploaded
May 24th, 2013
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Viewed 554 Times - Last Visitor from Cambridge, MA on 04/20/2024 at 8:39 AM
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Comments (77)
Alexandra Jordankova
This is awesome Pedros - I love what you did with this image! My favorite part of Prague! v/f/TW/FB/g+
Bianca Nadeau
Gorgeous processing on this Pedro! So well suited to this fantastic architectural scene. v
John Tidball
Great depiction of one of my favourite places! I must have walked through that arch at least a dozen times. V/f
SophiaArt Gallery
I love this, Pedro! It has such a historic feel to it. Love the treatment you gave it too! v/f