Bambino of Prague

The origin of Prague’s famous sculpture of the infant Jesus (or Bambino) dates back to the 17th century. The exact year in which it was made is not known, only that it was fashioned in Spain by an unknown artist, probably in a convent between the cities of Cordoba and Seville. Dona Isabela Manrique de Lara a Mendoza obtained the effigy and bequeathed it to her daughter Maria upon her marriage to a Czech nobleman. Maria, in turn, passed it on to her daughter Polyxena as a wedding gift. In 1628 Polyxena of Lobkowicz presented it to the monastery of the Teresian Carmelites (also sometimes called the Barefooted Carmelites.)

During the Baroque period there was a great fascination with and worship of the childhood of Jesus Christ. Therefore it is appropriate that the Bambino effigy wound up in the chapel of Prague’s first Baroque church, the Church of Our Lady Victorious, which had been completed in 1613. In 1631, only three years after the arrival of the Bambino, the Saxons invaded Prague and plundered the monastery. Fortunately, the sculpture was mistaken as rubbish and left behind, suffering only the loss of its arms. After the reparation of the sculpture, in 1655 the Infant Jesus was presented with a crown by the bishop of Prague.

Throughout its 400 years of existence, the fame of the Bambino has grown far and wide. Today it is considered one of the most revered images in the Catholic world, and has been credited with working a number of miracles, including restoring hearing to the deaf, sight to the blind, and movement to the paralyzed. It is also said that this effigy made of wax and wood protected nuns from illness during the plague years. The 47 cm Bambino of Prague is now on display in the Church of Our Lady Victorious, placed on an altar and protected by a glass case. For the past 200 years, the Order of English Virgins has been in charge of changing the wardrobe of the Infant Jesus. There are approximately 60 outfits which are changed at sunrise on specially selected days of the year. Adjacent to the church is a small museum which traces the history of this holy figurine and a gift shop where miniature models the Infant Jesus can be purchased.

For those visitors who don’t take a great interest in religion or Catholicism, this may not be the most interesting site. By today’s standards, the wax effigy looks a bit like a creepy doll, and the attention paid to changing its outfits borders on the ridiculous. But don’t dismiss it so easily; try to bear in mind that this figurine is 400 years old, and that from a historical perspective it acts as a significant reflection of the religious beliefs of that era.