Scholar Fountain (Pomnik Żaka)
Kraków Fountains
Monument fountain, Stare Miasto district. A fountain with the figure of a "żak", a student of old, stands in the southern part of Mariacki Square. It was a gift from Kraków's craftsmen to the city in 1958. The fountain was designed by Jan Budziło and the figure was made by Franciszek Kalfas. It is an enlarged replica of one of the prophet sculptures from the frame of the central cabinet of the Veit Stoss altarpiece.
History
The fountain with the figure of a student (żak) was unveiled in 1958 in the southern part of Mariacki Square. It was a gift from Kraków's craftsmen to the city and a tribute to Veit Stoss. The fountain was designed by Jan Budziłło, and the figure was made by the sculptor Franciszek Kalfas. The student is an enlarged copy of the figure of one of the prophets that decorate the frame of the central shrine of Veit Stoss's altarpiece in St Mary's Basilica.
Did you know?
The streams of water bring to mind tears running down the student's sad face. According to local legend, anyone who throws a coin into the fountain will one day happily return to Kraków.