The sculpture, also known as Girl with Ravens, was created in the late 1980s as part of the urban and architectural redevelopment of Castle Hill. It is a visual highlight of the relaxation terrace on the hill’s eastern slope near St Nicholas Church, a location that offers views across Bratislava. 

The work, created by the sculptor Tibor Bartfay in collaboration with the architect Ferdinand Milučký, does not represent anyone in particular. Set on an irregularly shaped concrete pedestal, the larger-than-life depiction is an allegorical bronze figure of a woman. Bearing a realistic expression and dressed in richly pleated clothes, she sits on the ground with legs outstretched, arms open, and forearms bent upwards. Her flowing hair intertwines between her fingers as two ravens perch on her right shoulder and seven other ravens look on from her right side. The scene is completed by an owl, one eye closed and the other open, seemingly on constant watch for anyone approaching the woman. 

Tibor Bartfay expressed the conceptual basis of his work as follows: "Long ago, witches were burned or drowned in the Danube. [...] They were wise women. [...] They knew medicinal herbs, they were skilled cooks and housewives. Their only mistake was that they fell out of favour with someone, often for a silly, petty reason. [...] I wanted to rehabilitate them." 

A similar sculpture depicting ravens and owls, but without a human figure, stands next to the Andrej Bagar Theatre in the park on Svätopluk Square in Nitra. 

PB

Research status as of 15. 06. 2023.