Christ the Redeemer is colossal statue of Jesus Christ at the summit of Mount Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. The statue of Christ the Redeemer was completed in 1931. This statue  stands 98 feet tall, its horizontally outstretched arms spanning 92 feet . The statue has become emblematic of both the city of Rio de Janeiro and the whole nation of Brazil.

Brazil-Christ the Redeemer

The statue, made of reinforced concrete clad in a mosaic of thousands of triangular soapstone tiles. That sits on a square stone pedestal base about 26 feet (8 metres) high. Which itself is situated on a deck atop the mountain’s summit. This statue is the largest Art Deco-style sculpture in the world.

Pritish Kumar gives more interesting facts about CHRIST THE REDEEMER’(Statue) below.

History

In the 1850s the Vincentian priest Pedro Maria Boss suggested placing a Christian monument on Mount Corcovado to honour Isabel. Who was princess regent of Brazil and the daughter of Emperor Pedro II, although the project was never approved. In 1921 the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro proposed that a statue of Christ be built on the 2,310-foot (704-metre) summit. Which because of its commanding height, would make it visible from anywhere in Rio. Citizens petitioned Pres. Epitácio Pessoa to allow the construction of the statue on Mount Corcovado.

Permission was granted, and the foundation stone of the base was ceremonially laid on April 4, 1922. Because to commemorate the centennial on that day of Brazil’s independence from Portugal. Although the monument’s final design had not yet been chosen. That same year a competition was held to find a designer. The Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa was chosen on the basis of his sketches of a figure of Christ holding a cross in his right hand and the world in his left. In collaboration with Brazilian artist Carlos Oswald, Silva Costa later amended the plan. Oswald has been credited with the idea for the figure’s standing pose with arms spread wide. The French sculptor Paul Landowski, who collaborated with Silva Costa on the final design. This has been credited as the primary designer of the figure’s head and hands. Funds were raised privately, principally by the church. Under Silva Costa’s supervision, construction began in 1926 and continued for five years. During that time materials and workers were transported to the summit via railway.

One of the Seven Wonders of the World!

The list of the seven wonders of the world has been known since antiquity, but few can list their memory. On the other hand, that of the Seven New Wonders of the World is easier to remember. Among their, Christ the Redeemer of Rio holds the 3rd place.

 

The 7 Wonders of the Modern World were nominated following a vote organized by the New Seven Wonders Foundation. A foundation created by Swiss businessman Bernard Weber linked to a private marketing company. It is therefore a private initiative with a mercantile goal which has absolutely nothing to do with Unesco. Although it is often credited with the project, but any will to increase the cultural knowledge of the world is favorable, we will not sulk our pleasure. The criteria chosen for the final choice were the aesthetics of course, but also the complexity of implementation in the historical context.  Another criterion was the historical interest of the monument. All technical exploits carried out for aesthetic or cultic purposes, such as skyscrapers or hydraulic dams, too recent monuments (the limit was fixed at the year 2000, the latest), were rejected as well as the monuments in a state of disrepair too advanced. Of the 177 files presented, only 21 were retained, for 7 winners. One out of three therefore. The results were promulgated on 7 July 2007 in Lisbon.

Conclusion

After its completion, the statue was dedicated on October 12, 1931. Over the years it has undergone periodic repairs and renovations, including a thorough cleaning in 1980. In preparation for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Brazil that year, and a major project in 2010, when the surface was repaired and refurbished. Escalators and panoramic elevators were added beginning in 2002. Previously, in order to reach the statue itself, tourists climbed more than 200 steps as the last stage of the trip. In 2006, to mark the statue’s 75th anniversary, a chapel at its base was consecrated to Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil.

The monument is a cultural icon in Brazil and around the world. It’s a popular tourist destination so crowds are often large. On a clear day, the viewpoint atop Corcovado provides an excellent view of Rio. The statue is open most of the day. A choice of train and tour buses make the journey to and from Christ the Redeemer simple, while the entrance ticket is inexpensive.

Reference

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christ-the-Redeemer