John of Nepomuk or John Nepomucene lived in 14th century in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic).
He was the confessor of the queen of Bohemia and refused to divulge the secrets of the confessional.
For this reason he was drowned in the Vltava river at the behest of Wenceslaus, King of the Romans and King of Bohemia.
John of Nepomuk is considered the first martyr of the Seal of the Confessional, a patron against calumnies and, because of the manner of his death, a protector from floods.
The figure of Saint John of Nepomuk is often encountered in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Italy and Lithuania.
His usual attributes useful to identify his pictures are: a priestly dress, the palm of martyrs, carrying a cross, a finger over his lips.