Josef Mařatka

From 1889 to 1896, he studied at the School of Applied Arts under Celda Klouček,[1] who was a paleontologist as well as a sculptor.

In 1899, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied with Josef Václav Myslbek.

He began by responding to the influences he had absorbed from the expressionist movement, incorporating elements of symbolism and Art Nouveau.

After World War I, he returned to the styles he had learned from Myslbek, combining Neoclassicism with a bit of early Socialist Realism; for example, Praha svým vítězným synům (Prague's Victorious Sons) at the Emmaus Monastery.

Between 1921 and 1926, he created thirteen monuments of various sizes, honoring Czech President, Tomáš Masaryk, one of which is in San Francisco.