
Cristo Rei (Christ the King)
1959
Towering 110 meters above the Tagus River, this monumental concrete figure depicts a robed male figure with arms outstretched in a gesture of benediction or embrace. The sculpture presents a striking contrast between the smooth, cylindrical torso rendered in light gray concrete and the golden bronze upper body, head, and flowing drapery that catches the Mediterranean sunlight. Completed in 1959 and positioned on the hills of Almada to overlook Lisbon, this iconic landmark embodies mid-twentieth-century modernist ambitions in religious public art, combining engineering innovation with spiritual symbolism. The work's commanding scale and simplified geometric forms reflect the sculptural language of its era while asserting a permanent presence in the urban landscape. Photo by André Eusébio on Unsplash
- Medium
- Concrete sculpture
- Spotted At
- Venue · Almada (overlooking Lisbon)
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