Il Commendatore — Anna Chromy, Prague
Anna Chromy · Bronze, beside the Estates Theatre from 2000 · Železná Street, Prague, Czechia
Photo: Josep Renalias via Wikimedia Commons, 28 December 2019 (CC BY-SA 4.0), from the Street Art Utopia archive. Full photograph shown; resized for display.
An empty bronze cloak by Anna Chromy sat in Železná Street, in front of the Estates Theatre, from 2000. She named it after the Commendatore in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, which premiered in the theatre in 1787. iDNES.cz · Seznam Zprávy Checked On 12 November 2025 Prague 1 removed it. It was not destroyed: it went into storage at the National Theatre’s depository, and Prague 1 says it is looking for a new permanent site. iDNES.cz · Prague Morning · Expats.cz Reported
4 things to know
- Named for the stone guestChromy named the sculpture after the Commendatore, the character in Mozart’s Don Giovanni; it marks the opera’s 1787 premiere at the Estates Theatre. It is also known as Plášť svědomí, the Cloak of Conscience. iDNES.cz · Prague Morning Checked
- Only meant to be temporaryPrague 1’s spokesperson Karolína Šnejdarová said the sculpture was originally installed only as a temporary piece. It stayed for 25 years. iDNES.cz · Seznam Zprávy Reported
- Why it was movedThe National Theatre had long asked for its removal, saying it did not fit the theatre’s historic and architectural setting. Councillors also cited repeated vandalism: the pedestal was used as a rubbish bin and even a toilet. iDNES.cz · Seznam Zprávy · Expats.cz Checked
- Stored, not destroyedAfter the removal the sculpture went into temporary storage at the National Theatre’s depository, at Anenské náměstí according to Prague Morning. It remains the property of Prague 1. iDNES.cz · Prague Morning · Expats.cz Reported
Check-in guide
- 📍
- Former site: Železná Street, in front of the Estates Theatre entrance, Old Town, Prague. The sculpture is no longer there. iDNES.cz · Seznam Zprávy Checked
- 📦
- Now: not on public view. Temporarily stored at the National Theatre’s depository until Prague 1 chooses a new site. Prague Morning · Expats.cz Reported
Sightings
- 2000
Stands beside the Estates Theatre from 2000 · iDNES.cz
- 201928 Dec
Photographed beside the theatre · Josep Renalias
- 202512 Nov
Removed from Železná Street by Prague 1 · iDNES.cz
- 202514 Nov
Placed in storage at the National Theatre · Prague Morning
- 202524 Nov
Still Prague 1 property, in the theatre’s depot · Expats.cz (updated report)
Every stamp links to its source. The green stamp is a dated photograph of the cloak in place, Josep Renalias’s of 28 December 2019. The amber stamp is the work’s history. Red stamps are the removal reports: they show the sculpture was taken into storage, not destroyed, and set the Gone 2025 status stamp.
On the record
Odstranili sochu, která u Stavovského divadla budila rozpaky. Vytvořila ji žačka Dalího
“Městská část Praha 1 aktivně jedná o vhodném místě pro její důstojné a trvalé umístění”
“The Prague 1 district is actively negotiating a suitable place for its dignified and permanent installation,” said district spokesperson Karolína Šnejdarová, after the sculpture went into the National Theatre’s depository.
Prague Removes the “Cloak of Conscience” Sculpture After Years of Debate
“the work by Czech artist Anna Chromy has been placed in storage at the National Theatre.”
Prague removes controversial bronze sculpture by Estates Theatre
“the sculpture remains property of Prague 1 and is now temporarily stored at the theatre’s depot.”
The report attributes this to National Theatre spokesperson Tomáš Staněk.
The facts
- Title
- Il Commendatore, also known as Plášť svědomí (Cloak of Conscience). iDNES.cz · Expats.cz Checked
- Artist
- Anna Chromy (1940–2021), Czech-born sculptor who worked mostly in France and Italy. iDNES.cz · Seznam Zprávy · Expats.cz Checked
- Material
- Bronze. Prague Morning · Expats.cz Checked
- Form
- A draped, hooded cloak with no figure inside. iDNES.cz · Prague Morning Checked
- Year
- Stood beside the theatre from 2000. Prague Morning says Chromy donated it to Prague after an exhibition in 2000; the year it was made is not given. iDNES.cz · Seznam Zprávy · Prague Morning Checked
- Former place
- Železná Street, in front of the entrance to the Estates Theatre (Stavovské divadlo), Old Town, Prague. iDNES.cz · Seznam Zprávy Checked
- Removed
- Wednesday 12 November 2025, by Prague 1 (both reports of 13 November say “this Wednesday”). iDNES.cz · Seznam Zprávy Checked
- Owner
- Prague 1 (Městská část Praha 1). Seznam Zprávy · Expats.cz Checked
- Status
- Gone from its site since 12 November 2025; in temporary storage at the National Theatre’s depository, not destroyed. Latest dated report: Expats.cz, updated 24 November 2025. iDNES.cz · Prague Morning · Expats.cz Reported
- New site
- Not announced. Prague 1 said it was negotiating a permanent site; we found no report of one when we checked on 19 October 2026. iDNES.cz · Seznam Zprávy Unconfirmed
- Similar figures
- Chromy placed similar cloaked figures in Salzburg, Monaco and Karlsruhe. Seznam Zprávy Reported
- Our photo
- Josep Renalias, 28 December 2019, CC BY-SA 4.0. Josep Renalias photo, 28 Dec 2019 Checked
Related
- Cute or Creepy? (12 Photos): the SAU collection with Il Commendatore
All sources (6)
Press and guides
- iDNES.cz: “Odstranili sochu, která u Stavovského divadla budila rozpaky. Vytvořila ji žačka Dalího”, Tereza Krocová and ČTK, 13 November 2025. Removed on Wednesday from Železná Street; stood there from 2000; National Theatre’s request and vandalism; now in the National Theatre’s depository; named after the Don Giovanni character.
- Seznam Zprávy: “„Umělecky nekorespondovala.“ Praha 1 odstranila sochu před Stavovským divadlem”, ČTK, 13 November 2025. Prague 1 remains the owner; originally installed only temporarily; similar figures in Salzburg, Monaco and Karlsruhe.
- Prague Morning: “Prague Removes the “Cloak of Conscience” Sculpture After Years of Debate”, 14 November 2025. Bronze; placed in storage at the National Theatre’s depository at Anenské náměstí until Prague 1 chooses a new location.
- Expats.cz: “Prague removes controversial bronze sculpture by Estates Theatre”, Jason Pirodsky, 16 November 2025, updated 24 November 2025. Remains property of Prague 1, temporarily stored at the theatre’s depot.
Photos
- Wikimedia Commons: Josep Renalias, “Praga – Teatre dels Estats – Estàtua Il Commendatore”, taken 28 December 2019. CC BY-SA 4.0.
Street Art Utopia
- Street Art Utopia: Cute or Creepy? (12 Photos), 19 October 2026. The SAU post with this photo.
Artwork File · Last checked 19 October 2026 · Certainty labels follow How We Verify Art · All Artwork Files