Monumento De Sierra Cristo Rey, (sculpture).

Monumento De Sierra Cristo Rey, (sculpture).

Soler, Urbici, 1890-1953, sculptor.

Monumento De Sierra Cristo Rey, (sculpture).

Mt. Cristo Rey, (sculpture).

Christ King Statue, (sculpture).

Christ: 1937-1940. Dedicated Oct. 29, 1939. Crown: 1989.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: Cordova cream limestone or Cordova cream sandstone; Base: concrete and Cordova cream limestone.

Sculpture: approx. H. 33.5 ft. ; Base: approx. H. 10 ft. x W. 14 ft.

Solar A.D. 40 (Engraved on the robe:) "To My Betty" (On front of base: tiles with names of families that donated funds for the base) signed Founder's mark appears.

A limestone figure of Jesus seen standing atop a half-sphere of the word emerging from clouds, in front of a concrete cross. Christ is barefoot, dressed in ankle-length, long-sleeved robes and his hands are outstretched to his sides with palms down. Below Christ is a royal crown and sceptor on a tufted pillow. The sculpture is set atop a stepped base with 4 x 6 inch tiles inscribed with donor names. A circular concrete crown surrounds the entire piece, which is placed high atop the mounting.

Religion -- New Testament -- Christ

Religion -- New Testament -- Crucifixion

Emblem -- Cross

Outdoor Sculpture -- Texas -- Sunland

Administered by Diocese of New Mexico, 2027 Magoffin, El Paso, Texas 79901

Located Lourdes Street, Sunland, Texas

The monument was created to commemorate the nineteenth centennial of the redemption. Inspiration for the sculpture came from Father Lourdes Costa, priest of Smelter town (now Anapra, New Mexico). Temporary crosses were erected prior to the completion of the monument. The figure of Jesus was approved in 1937, but there were numerous delays and the sculpture wasn't completed until 1940. The artist dedicated the sculpture to his wife, Betty. The crown around the sculpture, which was included in the artist's original plans, was installed in 1989 by the Cristo Rey Restoration Committee. Some of the tiles on the base were added as part of fund-raising efforts for the 1991 restoration done by Steve W. Beck (El Paso, Texas).

IAS files contain conflicting reports as to the sculpture's media. SOS! surveyor reports sculpture is Cordova cream limestone, whereas a related article from Nova, The University of Texas at El Paso Magazine (Dec. 1973), reports the sculpture is Cordova cream sandstone. IAS files contain a fund raising announcement and a copy of Lourdes F. Costa's "Sierra de Cristo Rey, Condensed Facts of its History," (1933-1939).

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Texas survey, 1993.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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