Christ With Bound Hands

Artist / Maker Christian Petersen (Danish - American, 1885 - 1961)

Date1950

OriginU.S.A.

MediumPainted Plaster

Dimensions39 x 8 1/2 x 10 in. (99.1 x 21.6 x 25.4 cm)

ClassificationsSculpture

Credit LineGift of the Estate of Reverend William Robert Merrill. In the Christian Petersen Art Collection, Christian Petersen Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object numberUM99.299

Status

Not on view

Collections

Label TextThe painted plaster sculpture is an image of Christ with his hands in front, tied with a rope. He wears a wrap around his lower body and his chest is bare. In August of 1945, Petersen talked to a reporter for the Iowa State Daily Student about a sculpture for which he had already made a model. It was to be a new concept of Christ that would portray Him as a masculine, powerful figure with a stern expression who stood with his hands tied by a rope. The idea was a representation of Christ “as he would appear on the earth surveying our present day humanity [and] views the wartorn world.” Petersen further explained to the student reporter about the overlarge hands of the figure: “It is as if he holds an atomic bomb in each fist.”

Published ReferencesAmes Daily Tribune, Sept. 29, 1950 listed as "Christ, the Judge"; Julegranen, 1947 listed as "Christ Before Pilate"; Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska), July 7, 1968.

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