Overlooking the Regnitz River stands the St Christopherus Sculpture. Its imposing figure seems to have just emerged from the water. This isn’t just a statue it’s a silent witness to Bamberg’s history.
For two centuries a ferry carried people across the river right here. The village of Bug was a popular destination. Especially after a cafe opened now known as Hotel Lieb. Sundays brought crowds to Bug. This didn’t go unnoticed by the state. Stephan Freiherr von Stengel the royal Hain administrator saw an opportunity. In 1810 the ferry rights were auctioned. Profits went to maintaining the Hain.
In 1920 a plan arose to erect a statue at Bug’s tip. The Bamberg Tourism and Beautification Association initially considered St Nepomuk. He stood further north. They didn’t anticipate opposition from the E.T.A Hoffmann Society. St Nepomuk couldn’t be moved they argued. He belonged to the shelter as described in E.T.A Hoffmann’s “News of the Latest Misfortunes of the Dog Berganza”.
So a St Christopherus statue was commissioned from Bamberg sculptor Hans Leitherer. It was unveiled in 1926. The current staircase came later with the construction of the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal in 1963. The ferry is gone now replaced by a pedal boat rental.
Notice St Christopher’s powerful form. He carries the Christ child effortlessly. He isn’t the giant of legend but a strong man with a close-fitting cloak. He calmly carries out his duty. His firm grip holds the child who sits astride his shoulder. The child in a flowing dress holds onto St Christopher’s head and gives a blessing.
Observe the gnarled staff in St Christopher’s left hand. It’s a wild root trunk at the base topped by delicate foliage. This strong vertical contrasts with his serene expression. The traditional strength and naturalness of St Christopher is transferred from his figure to the staff. Yet his features are true to the legendary image. His head is large and strong. His hair and beard are relatively short but somewhat shaggy and unkempt. His face shows unpolished naturalness. It’s strong with prominent brows and cheekbones. He has a somewhat somber look and deep lines. This makes his face impressively lifelike. This corresponds meaningfully with the fresh naturalness of the nearby foliage of the staff.
The Christ child is plump. He has short tight curls. His face is round. His features blend smoothly together. His small nose hardly exceeds the curves on his forehead and cheeks. His full lips sink into deep dimples. The Christ child’s body is also organically captured. This is evident in the way his clothes fit.
The delicate individualization of St Christopher’s head and the playful exaggeration of the Christ child’s head are new features. This is linked to the new style of the Parler sculptors in Prague. The tendency to overemphasize the plasticity and the resulting new vitality is already present in the figure of St Margaret. There are however no prototypes in Regensburg for the high artistic quality of the St Christopher figure. Therefore a sculptor from Prague is most likely. The console is also high-quality. A winged demon coils at its lower end. The foliage displays an extraordinarily expansive vegetative dynamism. This too is characteristic of Parler art.
This St Christopherus Sculpture is more than just a statue. It is a symbol of Bamberg’s history and a testament to enduring faith. Its beauty captivates. It tells a story spanning centuries. Remember this story the next time you see the St Christopherus Sculpture.