Sova s mládětem Sculpture

Have you ever seen a giant baby, perched atop a man’s shoulders, gazing out at the Vltava River? This whimsical sculpture, Sova s mládětem, stands proudly in front of Museum Kampa. It’s a playful landmark, but there’s a rich history behind both the sculpture and the museum. Museum Kampa is nestled within the renovated Sova’s Mills. These historic mills have witnessed centuries of Prague’s evolution. They were once the site of the oldest mill in Prague, dating back to the Middle Ages. The mills changed hands many times, taking on the names of their various owners. In 1478, Václav Sova of Liboslav, a future alderman of Prague, acquired the then-desolate mill area. He rebuilt it into a complex of mills, a sawmill, and a house. His descendants further expanded the complex, adding the distinct gabled building that remains today. Sova’s Mills weren’t just a peaceful industrial site. During the Thirty Years’ War, Swedish troops used the mills as a strategic point to bombard Prague’s Old Town. Over the centuries, the mills endured fires, floods, and several reconstructions, transforming from their original Gothic style to Renaissance and later forms. A major fire in 1896 led to the City of Prague taking ownership. The idea to transform the mills into a gallery arose between the World Wars. However, it wasn’t until much later, thanks to Meda Mládková, that Museum Kampa became a reality. Mládková befriended the artist František Kupka in 1950s Paris and recognized his significance in abstract art. She amassed a large collection of his works, along with those of Jiří Kolář and Otto Gutfreund. Mládková generously donated the collection to Prague. The museum, now housed in the restored Sova’s Mills, finally opened in 2003. The giant baby on a man’s shoulders? That’s Sova s mládětem. It serves as a modern counterpoint to the historical mills, reminding us of the enduring power of art and the fascinating stories that intertwine with places like Museum Kampa and Sova’s Mills.