After training as a stucco worker, the sculptor, medalist and occasional restorer Jaroslav Brůha studied under Josef Drahoňovský at the Academy of Arts Architecture and Design in Prague from 1908 to1911, and in the period between 1911and 1917 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague where Josef Václav Myslbek, Stanislav Sucharda and Jan Štursa all helped him hone his skills. He was also influenced by the work of the Belgian painter and sculptor Constantin Meunier.
During his childhood, Brůha lost an eye, which lead Myslbek to proclaim that one day the talented student would be as famous as Žižka. He was mistaken. However, Brůha is one of the unforgettable figures of 20th century Czech art. He was always a Realist sculptor and, as such, experimenting with form was alien to him. His work between the world wars – sculptural ornamentation of many, predominantly Prague, buildings (e.g. the Trade Union building in Na Perštýně Street or Tyrš House at Újezd), but also of buildings in other towns (e.g. Sokol buildings in Litomyšl and Chotěboř), portraits, memorials, numerous medals and plaques (especially with a sporting theme) – was characterized by the dwindling influence of Symbolism. Later, the sculptor gradually anticipated aspects of Social Realism and civil sentiment to which he remained faithful. During the Protectorate, he created small relief works (Saint, Kiss), returning to his work on memorials (e.g. Soviet Army Memorial in Prague at Olšany) and portraits and sculptural work for architecture after the war.
An interesting aspect of Jaroslav Brůha´s life as an artist was his relatively regular participation in design competitions. However, most of his designs were never carried out, as was the case of his designs for a memorial to Jan Žižka in Prague Vítkov (1924, 2nd prize; bear in mind the aforementioned remark by J. V. Myslbek!), and a memorial to Bedřich Smetana in Litomyšl (1926, one of three prizes in no particular order). Sometime in the mid-1920s, Brůha taught modelling at an evening course at the Academy of Arts Architecture and Design in Prague. During the socialist era, he held several positions within the Czechoslovak Union of Artists, after its dissolution he became a member of the Czech Union of Artists; in 1962 he received the Artists of Merit Award, in 1975 he was awarded the Order of Labour and City of Prague Award, and there was a retrospective exhibition of his work in the Prague Nová Síň gallery.
1923
Medal for the Czechoslovak Sokol Organization – (Lützow Shield) Lützowův štít
1925
Vaníčkova Perpetual Trophy
Ministry of Agriculture Medal
1926
Figures representing Mining, Steelworks, Agriculture and Organization and 19 relief artworks depicting crafts on the facade and voussoirs of the Czechoslovak Trade Union building (today used by the Czech Police)
Na Perštýně Street No. 347/I, Prague 1
1931
Four seated female figures symbolizing farm labour (in cooperation with Karel Štipl) on the entry to the Ministry of Agriculture building
Prague-Těšnov
1935
Memorial to Jan Podlipný
Prague-Libeň
1939 (?)
Sokol-themed relief work on Tyrš House
Prague-Újezd
1945
Two Red Army figures – part of the Soviet Army Memorial
Prague-Olšany
1955
Group sculpture on one of the pylons of the Spartakiade Stadium
Prague-Strahov
Jubilee one-hundred-crown note
1956
Portrait of Vilém Zítek
National Theatre
1959
Relief of Carnation Seller (or Girl with Carnation)
Railway station hall in Klatovy
Dukla commemorative medal (reverse)