Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/45

33 Radecký z Radče, whose figure stands amidst a group of Austrian soldiers whom in his time he had led from victory to victory.

Equally effective, is the view towards the northern side of the square, which has a row of arcades. The house at the east corner (No. 8) next to Thomas’ street boasts a fine turret-window with sgrafitti; next to it stands the original palace of the Counts of Sternberg, with a large picture of the Virgin on the wall, and with a terrace. Further on, to the west is the huge Montag-house, formerly the palace of the now extinct barons ze Smiřic, built in the characteristic renaissance style of the XVIIth. century and ornamented with two turret windows and a tower in the courtyard. This side of the square is on the whole and in all details so original and peculiar to Prague, that the most experienced traveller will not be able to recall having seen anything like it before.

The east side of the square is not so well preserved; the general effect is greatly marred by the tasteless new building, of the Saving-bank (Malostranská záložna). But even here, the fine baroque house No. 37. a work of Dienzenhoffer and the former Hall of the Small-town its beautiful ornamentation which dates from the XVIth. century, makes a fine artistic impression although the arcade of the former Hall siis [sic] now filled up. A fine contrast to this is effected by the opposite building, formerly a Jesuit College (of the XVIIth. century), now the house of the Upper Court of Law for the kingdom of Bohemia. It is a colossal edifice of great outward dimensions but of very simple details, and rises like a gigantic block above the lower surroundings. Still, neither its extent nor simplicity of detail, is from an architectural point of view out of place in this very lively neighbourhood; its quiet walls have a good effect in the variety of forms at the northern and eastern sides of the square.

Through the long row of shady arcades at the southern side, filled with historically interesting houses, we now proceed to the Upper square of the Small town (Horní Malostranské náměstí). Here we see the former fine Senftenberg palace, now the house of the Chamber of Accounts. Next, the building of the chief Military Commando, 3