Christ the Redeemer (statue) explained

Monument Name:Christ the Redeemer
Native Name:Cristo Redentor
Location:Corcovado mountain,
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Zoom:11
Designer:Designed by sculptors Paul Landowski and Heitor da Silva Costa and built by engineer Heitor da Silva Costa in collaboration with Albert Caquot. Sculptor Gheorghe Leonida created the face
Material:Reinforced concrete with soapstone veneer
Width:28m (92feet)
Height:30m (100feet), 38m (125feet) with its pedestal
Complete:Dedicated
Coordinates:-22.9519°N -43.2106°W
Extra:Consecrated October 12, 2006
New Seven Wonders of the World July 7, 2007

Christ the Redeemer (Portuguese: Cristo Redentor, standard pronounced as /pt-BR/) is an Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, created by French-Polish sculptor Paul Landowski and built by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, in collaboration with French engineer Albert Caquot. Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida sculpted the face. Constructed between 1922 and 1931, the statue is 30m (100feet) high, excluding its 8m (26feet) pedestal. The arms stretch 28m (92feet) wide.[1] [2] It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone.[3] [4] [5] Christ The Redeemer differs considerably from its original design, as the initial plan was a large Christ with a globe in one hand and a cross in the other. Although the project organizers originally accepted the design, it later changed to the statue of today, with the arms spread out wide.

The statue weighs 635 metric tons (625 long, 700 short tons), and is located at the peak of the 700m (2,300feet) Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca National Park overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. This statue is the largest Art Deco–style sculpture in the world.[6] A symbol of Christianity around the world, the statue has also become a cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil and was voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.[7]

History

Vincentian priest Pedro Maria Boss first suggested placing a Christian monument on Mount Corcovado in the mid-1850s to honor Princess Isabel, regent of Brazil and the daughter of Emperor Pedro II, but the project was not approved. In 1889, the country became a republic, and owing to the separation of church and state, the proposed statue was dismissed.[8]

The Catholic Circle of Rio made a second proposal for a landmark statue on the mountain in 1920. The group organized an event called Semana do Monumento ("Monument Week") to attract donations and collect signatures to support the building of the statue. The organization was motivated by what they perceived as "Godlessness" in the society. The donations came mostly from Brazilian Catholics. The designs considered for the "Statue of the Christ" included a representation of the Christian cross, a statue of Jesus with a globe in his hands, and a pedestal symbolizing the world.[9] Eventually, the statue of Christ the Redeemer with open arms, a symbol of peace, was chosen.

Local engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and artist Carlos Oswald designed the statue.[10] French sculptor Paul Landowski created the work.[11]

In 1922, Landowski commissioned fellow Parisian Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida, who studied sculpture at the Fine Arts Conservatory in Bucharest and in Italy.[12] A group of engineers and technicians studied Landowski's submissions, and they felt building the structure out of reinforced concrete (designed by Albert Caquot) instead of steel was more suitable for the cross-shaped statue. The concrete making up the base was supplied from Limhamn, Sweden.[13] [14] The outer layers are soapstone, chosen for its enduring qualities and ease of use. Construction took nine years, from 1922 to 1931, and cost the equivalent of and the monument opened on October 12, 1931. During the opening ceremony, the statue was to be lit by a battery of floodlights turned on remotely by Italian shortwave radio inventor Guglielmo Marconi, stationed 9200km (5,700miles) away in Rome but because of bad weather, the lights were activated on site.[15]

In October 2006, on the 75th anniversary of the statue's completion, Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid, Archbishop of Rio, consecrated a chapel, named after Brazil's patron saint—Our Lady of the Apparition—under the statue, allowing Catholics to hold baptisms and weddings there.

Lightning struck the statue during a violent thunderstorm on February 10, 2008, causing some damage to the fingers, head and eyebrows. The Rio de Janeiro state government initiated a restoration effort to replace some of the outer soapstone layers and repair the lightning rods on the statue. Lightning damaged it again on January 17, 2014, dislodging a finger on the right hand.[16] [17] [18] [19] In 2010, a massive restoration of the statue began. Work included cleaning, replacing the mortar and soapstone on the exterior, restoring iron in the internal structure, and waterproofing the monument. Vandals attacked the statue during renovation, spraying paint along the arm. Mayor Eduardo Paes called the act "a crime against the nation". The culprits later apologized and presented themselves to the police.[20] [21] [22]

In reference to Brazil striker Ronaldo's usual goal celebration of both arms outstretched, the Pirelli tyre company ran a 1998 commercial in which he replaced the statue while in an Inter Milan strip.[23] The commercial was controversial with the Catholic Church.[24]

Restoration

In 1990, several organizations, including the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro, media company Grupo Globo, oil company Shell do Brasil, environmental regulator of IBAMA, National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage, and the city government of Rio de Janeiro entered into an agreement to conduct restoration work.[25]

More work on the statue and its environs was conducted in 2003 and early 2010. In 2003, a set of escalators, walkways, and elevators were installed to facilitate access to the platform surrounding the statue. The four-month restoration in 2010 focused on the statue itself. The statue's internal structure was renovated and its soapstone mosaic covering was restored by removing a crust of fungi and other microorganisms and repairing small cracks. The lightning rods located in the statue's head and arms were also repaired, and new lighting fixtures were installed at the foot of the statue.[26]

The restoration involved one hundred people and used more than 60,000 pieces of stone taken from the same quarry as the original statue.[27] During the unveiling of the restored statue, it was illuminated with green-and-yellow lighting in support of the Brazil national football team playing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Maintenance work needs to be conducted periodically because of the strong winds and erosion to which the statue is exposed, as well as lightning strikes.[28] The original pale stone is no longer available in sufficient quantity, and replacement stones are increasingly darker in hue.[29]

Similar structures

Angola
Argentina/Chile
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Cuba
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Italy
Philippines
Lebanon
Malaysia
Malta
Mexico
Nigeria
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Spain
United States of America
Vietnam
Others

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: Christ the Redeemer (last updated 13 January 2014) . . July 11, 2014 . Murray . Lorraine.
  2. Book: Giumbelli, Emerson. Símbolos Religiosos em Controvérsia. 2014. São Paulo. 244. 978-85-7816-137-8. pt. y.
  3. October 26, 1931 . Christ the Redeemer . . dead . July 11, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930035058/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,742502,00.html . September 30, 2007.
  4. Web site: Brazil: Crocovado mountain – Statue of Christ . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070516094903/http://travel.discovery.com/video/video.html?videoRef=c8fbe1ab8af1bb5087cbd1d996d8baf851e4672b . May 16, 2007 . July 7, 2007 . .
  5. News: October 13, 2006 . Sanctuary Status for Rio landmark . . July 7, 2007.
  6. Encyclopedia: Christ the Redeemer (last updated September 14, 2023) . . September 15, 2023 . Asare . Daniel. August 14, 2023 .
  7. Web site: The New Seven Wonders of the World. Hindustan Times. July 8, 2007. July 11, 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930043832/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=c7e6494a-0e6c-46b4-9982-60b6b4bf20c1&ParentID=f702d4d5-e16e-4a07-bd0a-5bebf5c9b825&MatchID1=4488&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=10&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1120&PrimaryID=4488&Headline=The+new+Seven+Wonders+of+the+World. September 30, 2007. mdy-all.
  8. Web site: Cristo Corcovado by Sergi Lla on Prezi . Prezi.com . October 15, 2015.
  9. News: Redentor, carioca até a alma . July 17, 2008 . . pt . Duilo . Victor .
  10. Web site: Arms Wide Open. en-GB. May 22, 2021. bbc.
  11. Web site: (Français) Paul Landowski - L'officiel sculpteur du Christ rédempteur. en-US. February 2, 2020.
  12. Web site: Cristo Redentor: santuário carioca que virou símbolo da cidade no mundo . Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro . October 20, 2014. pt.
  13. Web site: Skanska: Vi är oskyldiga till underverket. July 9, 2007 .
  14. Web site: Öppna Kristusarmar som har haft skiftande betydelse - Kultur - Kristi… . https://archive.today/20140624211145/http://www.kristianstadsbladet.se/kultur/article1570427/Oppna-Kristusarmar-som-har-haft-skiftande-betydelse.html . June 24, 2014 . dead.
  15. Web site: Cristo Redentor – Histórico da Construção. pt. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090313041840/http://www.rio.rj.gov.br/riotur/pt/atracao/?CodAtr=3912. March 13, 2009.
  16. News: Cristo Redentor vai passar por restauração até junho ("Christ the Redeemer under restoration 'til June") . .
  17. News: Cristo Redentor, castigado por raios, passa por ampla reforma (Christ the Redeemer, punished by lightnings, go by ample refit) . . Valmir . Moratelli . April 13, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100404043631/http://ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/brasil/2010/04/01/cristo+redentor+castigado+por+raios+passa+por+ampla+reforma+9445658.html . April 4, 2010 . dead .
  18. Web site: Cristo Redentor renovado para 2010 . . December 2010 .
  19. News: Lightning breaks finger off Rio's Christ . The Age . January 2014.
  20. News: Vandals cover Rio's Christ statue with graffiti . . April 16, 2010.
  21. News: Estátua do Cristo Redentor é alvo de pichação . Tabak . Bernardo . Globo.
  22. http://infosurhoy.com/en_GB/articles/saii/features/society/2010/04/29/feature-02 Infosur hoy: Christ the Redeemer to get new outfit
  23. News: Pirelli e le metamorfosi della pubblicità . September 19, 2018 . Corriere Della Sera.
  24. Web site: Squires. Nick. June 9, 2014. World Cup 2014: Brazil furious over Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro in Italian football colours. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190906154918/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/brazil/10886269/World-Cup-2014-Brazil-furious-over-Christ-the-Redeemer-statue-in-Rio-de-Janeiro-in-Italian-football-colours.html. September 6, 2019. October 20, 2020. Telegraph.
  25. Web site: Top 100 iconic landmarks of the world (P.7) Christ the Redeemer: The cultural icon of Brazil . 2024-07-09 . Worldkings - World Records Union . en.
  26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SIgOyJM8DY Christ the Redeemer
  27. News: Brazil's Christ state returns after renovation . . July 1, 2010 . July 1, 2010.
  28. News: Reforma no cartão-postal. May 18, 2010. Veja Rio. May 18, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100127223233/http://vejabrasil.abril.com.br/rio-de-janeiro/editorial/m1682/reforma-no-cartao-postal. January 27, 2010.
  29. News: Arms wide open . Bowater . Donna . Mulvey . Stephen . Misra . Tanvi . March 10, 2014. . December 2, 2014.
  30. Web site: Statue in Jataí, southern Goiás, Brazil . pinterest.fr . 2024-08-19 .
  31. https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficheiro:Fim_de_tarde_no_Cristo_-_panoramio.jpg Photo of the Christ statue in Pitangui
  32. Web site: Christ the Redeemer, 5153 Av. Pres. Vargas, Rio Verde, Goiás . google.fr/maps . street camera .
  33. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cristo_Redentor_P._Plata,_DR.jpg Photo of Cristo Redentor in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
  34. Web site: Statue of Christ the Redeemer on the side of Grand Trunk Road near the V.R. Institute Of Post-Graduate Studies, Nellore, state of Andhra Pradesh, India . google.fr/maps . street camera .
  35. Web site: The statue of Christ at Vizhinjam near the resort of Kovalam in Kerala, India . mediastorehouse.co.uk . 2024-08-19 .
  36. Web site: Explore 'Seven Wonders of the World' at Eco Park near Kolkata . . August 22, 2016.
  37. Web site: Video showing the statue illuminated . youtube.com . 2024-08-19 .
  38. Web site: Gatra . Sandro . August 24, 2014 . Presiden Resmikan Patung Yesus Kristus di Pulau Mansinam . regional.kompas.com . October 15, 2015 .
  39. Web site: 2022-07-18 . Tourism » Rosario, Batangas . 2024-03-07 . en-US. (dead link)
  40. Web site: Photo of the Risen Christ statue on top of Tombol Hill in Rosario, Batangas . commons.wikimedia.org .
  41. Web site: Photo of the Christ the King statue in Lebanon . commons.wikimedia.org .
  42. Tan . Keith . Fu . Yen Huei . Lee . Sze-Ee . January 2020 . A new statue to proclaim an old culture: reactions to and intentions of the statue of ‘Christ the redeemer’, Melaka . Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change . 19 . 1 . 1-20 . 10.1080/14766825.2020.1718159 . 2024-08-19 .
  43. News: Christ statue demolition put on hold . heraldmalaysia.com . Nov 10, 2017 . 2024-08-19 .
  44. Web site: The history of our Christ on Tas Salvatur Hill . visitgozo.com . 2024-08-19 .
  45. Web site: Chinn . Derrik . January 22, 2016 . Inside the Icon: Christ of the Sacred Heart . sandiegomagazine.com . 2024-08-19 .
  46. Web site: Christ of the Sacred Heart, Carretera Libre Tijuana Ensenada Km 37.5, Fraccionamiento Villa San Pedro, 22710 Playa de Rosarito, B.C., Mexique . google.fr/maps . street camera .
  47. Web site: Photo of Christ statue in Tenancingo, México . in.pinterest.com . 2024-08-19 .
  48. Web site: Iluminan el "Cristo Rey de Los Álamos" . afntijuana.info . December 11, 2021 . 2024-08-19 .
  49. Web site: Cristo Blanco . theonlyperuguide.com . 2024-08-19 .
  50. Web site: Photo : Cristo The Yungay (Yungay Christ) Statue Atop The Cemetery, Yungay, Ancash, Peru . superstock.com . 2024-08-19 .
  51. Web site: Jesus Christ Statue in Klin . Slovakia.Travel . December 27, 2023.
  52. Web site: Statue of Jesus Christ, Monte Urgull . sansebastianturismoa.eus . 2024-08-19 .
  53. Web site: Mount Naranco, Oviedo, Spain . ourworldforyou.com . 2024-08-19 .
  54. Web site: Mount Cristo Rey . mtcristorey.com . 2024-08-19 .

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