Dead Body of St John of Nepomuk in the Vtava River

This nocturne, rather sober in its colour scheme but still exceptionally impressive, is an unusual, yet convincing achievement of Franz Karl Palko, who otherwise mostly painted frescoes and altarpieces. Flowing on the dark surface of the River Vltava, the pallid body of the dead St John of Nepomuk is accentuated by spectral light and the star nimbus, which according to a legend identified his position after he drowned. The fish in the left lower corner is reminiscent of the saint’s martyrdom in the river waves, being also a symbol of taciturnity. Despite its loose brushwork and small format, this is not a sketch but a devotional painting intended for private worship.