Sculpture "Through the Centuries"
Unveiled in July 2005 as a gift for Cēsis’ 800th anniversary, the sculpture “Through the Centuries” by Matiass Jansons—affectionately called “The Old Man of Time”—depicts a lantern-bearing figure, a symbol of the city itself.
The creation spanned 11 months in clay and plaster, with final bronze casting completed over two additional months in Tallinn, Estonia. Jansons’ family legacy in sculpture echoes here too, as seen in works like “Latgales Māra” and “Balvi Partisan”.
The artist describes his work as a tribute to the city’s medieval roots and a metaphor for Time—unstoppable, eternal, flowing through memory and into hope.
But there’s more—a legend crafted by M. Jansons himself:
The Legend of the Night Watchman
(Author: Matiass Jansons)
Long ago, when the towering stone walls encircled the city of Cēsis and its great iron-bound gates were the only way in, there lived a man—quiet, rarely seen, but deeply respected for his devotion. His companions: a sturdy staff and a lantern that never failed to shine.
Each evening, as the city gates locked and silence settled, his steps echoed through cobbled streets with a voice that soothed all sleepers: “All is well. Sleep sweetly. The city is at peace.”
Years passed. The people stopped asking his age or origin—they simply trusted that their dreams were guarded. But one foggy night, so thick it blanketed even the lantern’s light, his reassuring voice fell silent. And by morning… the Watchman was gone. His lantern, faint. His footsteps vanished.
Others came. Lantern bearers took his place. Time moved forward. The city saw war and ruin. And still it rose again, stronger.
The gates were never rebuilt. But legend whispers that if you meet a man with a lantern and staff in a quiet lane… Polish its glass. Let it guide your dreams, your thoughts, your works.
Across fields, through streets, beyond ancient walls—the centuries march on.
And we… we walk beside them.
