Johann Andreas Segner (1704 Bratislava – 1777 Halle, Germany) was a prominent mathematician, physicist, physician, polymath, and inventor. His birthplace at 7 Michalská Street in Bratislava, known as Segner Manor House, is listed as a national cultural monument in the Central List of Monuments of the Monuments Board. 

Segner's monument, a larger-than-life bronze bust by A. Vika sited on General Ludvík Svoboda Embankment, was erected in 1967. The stylised work is mounted on a console on the front of a grooved pillar. The face is framed by a distinctive period wig. However, Segner's depiction is not realistic, it is abstracted, probably from several available historical images (engravings). Below the bust, the pillar is inscribed J. A. SEGNER. 

The bust and letters were originally cast in bronze. However, they were often subject to theft or attempted theft that caused damage to the work. Following a decision by the General Investment Body of Bratislava, the original bust was placed into the GMB repository and a patinated epoxy replica was installed on the riverbank. 

An interesting feature of the monument is the art-architectural design of the pillar, which is not a perfect cuboid. Vertical grooves in the lower third of the pillar widen into stepped convex arches. This dynamic element references Segner's research and experiments in the field of hydraulics. These led him to invent the first water turbine, known as the Segner wheel, which harnessed the pressure of a vertical water column and centrifugal force. Segner's successors continued his pioneering work, perfecting the turbine principle that is widely in use today.  

The lower section of the monument is covered with dense greenery during the summer season. This noteworthy detail of the pillar thus remains unnoticed. 

ZD

Research status as of 30. 07. 2023.