Ethan Walker
Christ the Redeemer is a 30-metre-tall Art Deco statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was built between 1922 and 1931 and has become an iconic symbol of both the city and the nation. The statue was constructed through the combined efforts of French-Polish sculptor Paul Landowski, Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, French engineer Albert Caquot, and Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida, who sculpted the face. The statue is located on Mount Corcovado and was chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of the modern world in 2007. The Catholic Church has been associated with the statue in various ways, including the consecration of a chapel at its base dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil, and the celebration of Mass. The statue has also sparked controversy within the Church, such as when its likeness was used in a 1998 Pirelli Tires ad, and faced protests from other religious communities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Height | 30 metres (98 ft) excluding its 8-metre (26 ft) pedestal |
| Arm Span | 28 metres (92 ft) |
| Materials | Reinforced concrete and soapstone |
| Construction | 1922-1931 |
| Architect | Heitor da Silva Costa |
| Sculptor | Paul Landowski |
| Face | Sculpted by Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida |
| Symbolism | A symbol of peace and faith in Jesus |
| Chapel | Dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil |
| Maintenance | Requires routine repairs due to high winds, lightning strikes, and salt corrosion |
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What You'll Learn
Construction and design
Construction of the Christ the Redeemer statue began in 1922, and it was completed in 1931. It was designed by local engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and Brazilian artist Carlos Oswald, and built by da Silva Costa in collaboration with French engineer Albert Caquot. The French sculptor Paul Landowski, who collaborated with da Silva Costa on the final design, is credited as the primary designer of the head and hands. The statue's face was sculpted by Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida.
The construction took nine years and cost the equivalent of US$250,000 (equivalent to $4,400,000 in 2024). The statue was dedicated on October 12, 1931, and stands 98 feet (30 metres) tall, with its horizontally outstretched arms spanning 92 feet (28 metres). It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and sits on an 8-metre (26-foot) pedestal. The outer layers of the statue are made of soapstone, chosen for its enduring qualities and ease of use, as well as its beauty of texture and colour. The soapstone was manually pasted one by one on wide strips of cloth by the women of Rio's society at the time, who wrote the names of their loved ones on the small pieces of stone.
The Christ the Redeemer statue differs considerably from its original design. The initial plan was for a large statue of Christ holding a globe in one hand and a cross in the other. However, this design was later changed to the statue we see today, with its arms spread wide as a symbol of peace. The change in design was due in part to the choice of reinforced concrete over steel as the primary building material, which was better suited to the cross-shaped statue.
Over the years, the statue has undergone periodic repairs and renovations due to strong winds, erosion, and lightning strikes. In 2006, a chapel was consecrated at the base of the statue to mark its 75th anniversary. In 2010, a four-month renovation focused on repairing the structural integrity of the sculpture and its soapstone mosaic coating.
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Religious significance
The Christ the Redeemer statue is a 30-metre-high (98 ft) Art Deco statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, constructed between 1922 and 1931. It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone and sits on an 8-metre-high (26 ft) pedestal. The statue has become emblematic of both the city of Rio de Janeiro and the whole nation of Brazil.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer is a symbol of Christianity and has been described as "the most prominent symbol of faith in Jesus ever built in the world". It was constructed to commemorate Princess Isabel, a Brazilian emperor's daughter noted for her fierce Catholic faith and her determination to abolish slavery in Brazil. The statue was also intended to counter the Godlessness" in society at the time.
The Catholic Church in Brazil was enraged by a 1998 Pirelli Tires ad that spoofed the statue's likeness, with Brazilian football star Ronaldo mimicking the statue's pose. The Church, however, agreed to perform rehabilitation work on the statue in 1990. In 2006, a chapel was consecrated at the statue's base and dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil. The chapel allows Catholics to hold baptisms and weddings there.
The statue has been voted one of the Seven Wonders of the modern world, along with other important religious landmarks such as the Hellenistic city of Petra in Jordan and the Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru. It is considered a major milestone in Brazilian civil engineering.
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Symbolism
The Christ the Redeemer statue is a symbol of faith in Jesus and was built to be a Christian monument honouring Isabel, princess regent of Brazil and daughter of Emperor Pedro II. The statue was constructed between 1922 and 1931 and is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone. It stands at 30 metres (98 ft) high, not including its 8-metre (26 ft) pedestal, and its arms stretch 28 metres (92 ft) wide. The statue is emblematic of the city of Rio de Janeiro and the whole nation of Brazil.
The statue was designed 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. The statue was consecrated by Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid, Archbishop of Rio, and a chapel was built at its base, allowing Catholics to hold baptisms and weddings there. The statue has been chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of the modern world, alongside other landmarks such as the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Taj Mahal mausoleum in India.
The statue has become a symbol of Brazil and its faith in Jesus. It has been the subject of various controversies, including plagiarism concerns and protests from other religious communities, particularly Protestants, who were concerned about forced evangelisation and the lack of separation between church and state. The statue has also been damaged several times by lightning strikes, requiring periodic repairs and renovations.
The Christ the Redeemer statue has been celebrated in traditional and popular songs and has become a significant tourist attraction, offering panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro and its iconic landmarks, such as Sugarloaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach. The statue's construction is considered a major milestone in Brazilian civil engineering, and it stands as a testament to the technical and artistic abilities of those involved in its creation.
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Maintenance and restoration
The Christ the Redeemer statue is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone. Over the years, it has undergone periodic repairs and renovations due to damage caused by strong winds, extreme humidity, abrupt temperature changes, erosion, and lightning strikes.
The statue was struck by lightning in 2008, which damaged its head, fingers, 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. Lightning struck again in 2014, dislodging a finger on the right hand.
In 2010, a massive restoration of the statue began, involving one hundred people and the use of over 60,000 pieces of stone from the same quarry as the original statue. The work included cleaning, replacing the mortar and soapstone on the exterior, restoring iron in the internal structure, waterproofing the monument, and installing new lightning rods to prevent further damage. The statue was also illuminated with green-and-yellow lighting in support of the Brazilian national football team during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Other notable maintenance and restoration work on the statue includes a thorough cleaning in 1980 to prepare for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Brazil, and the addition of escalators and panoramic elevators in 2002 to improve access for tourists. In 2003, there was a major project to install escalators and elevators inside the statue, and in 2010, renovation work focused on the sculpture itself, repairing the structural integrity and its soapstone mosaic coating.
The original pale stone used for the statue is no longer available in sufficient quantities, so replacement stones are increasingly darker in hue, causing the statue to gradually darken over time. An Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) system was installed to control further corrosion of the steel-reinforced concrete. This system is designed to last over 75 years and is embedded in the mortar, forcing a small direct current from the titanium anode mesh to the reinforcing steel in the mantel.
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Influence and inspiration
The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a source of influence and inspiration for many. Completed in 1931, it stands at 30 metres (98 feet) tall, with its outstretched arms spanning 28 metres (92 feet). The statue, made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, is an Art Deco representation of Jesus Christ and has become emblematic of both the city of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil as a whole.
Religious Inspiration
The statue is a source of religious inspiration for Catholics and Christians, with its name, Christ the Redeemer, referring to the divinity of Jesus Christ and his role as the Redeemer of mankind. The statue's design, with its open and outstretched arms, is meant to symbolise peace. The statue's construction was motivated by the Catholic Church and Brazilian Catholics, who perceived a growing ""Godlessness" in society. The statue has a chapel at its base named after Brazil's patron saint, Our Lady of the Apparition, where Catholics can hold baptisms and weddings.
Cultural Significance
Christ the Redeemer has become a cultural symbol of Brazil and Rio de Janeiro, celebrated in traditional and popular songs. It is the first open-air sanctuary in the world and the first image of Jesus Christ to be the main symbol of a city. The statue's design and construction involved the participation and commitment of the faithful and the population of Rio de Janeiro, with donations and contributions coming from across Brazil. The statue is also a testament to Brazilian civil engineering, with its construction on a clifftop considered a significant milestone.
Artistic Influence
The statue has influenced and inspired artists and advertisers alike. The statue's designer, French-Polish sculptor Paul Landowski, is known for his other notable works, including a monument of Sun Yat-sen in Nanjing, China. In 1998, an advertisement by Pirelli tires featured the statue with its arms outstretched, alluding to a goal celebration by Brazilian footballer Ronaldo.
Similar Statues
Christ the Redeemer has also inspired similar statues worldwide, including the Christ of the Ozarks statue in Arkansas, USA, and the Statuia Inima lui Iisus in Harghita. These statues emulate the design and symbolism of the original, spreading the influence of Christ the Redeemer globally.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Christ the Redeemer statue is Catholic. The statue of Jesus Christ is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was built between 1922 and 1931.
The construction of the Christ the Redeemer statue was funded by donations and contributions collected in Rio and throughout Brazil.
The Christ the Redeemer statue is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone. The mosaic coating is made up of thousands of triangular soapstone tiles.
The statue is 30 metres (98 ft) high, excluding its 8-metre (26 ft) pedestal. The arms stretch 28 metres (92 ft) wide.
Yes, it is possible to go inside the Christ the Redeemer statue and access the arms and head of the statue via a set of 12 fragile and narrow stairs.
