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Cross of Inspiration
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Felix
de Weldon
Cross of Inspiration
Acrylic
Limited Edition
Size (inches)
25 h x 18 w x 4 1/2 d
Price:
US$17,500
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The
Cross of Inspiration is Felix de Weldon's tribute honoring
the 2000th year anniversary of the birth of Christ. Mr.
de Weldon created this likeness of Christ on the cross from
a picture taken of a ceiling fresco of one of the earliest
known depictions of Jesus. This image was rediscovered in
the world’s oldest church, Hagia
Sophia (Holy Wisdom) in Istanbul Turkey.
Felix de Weldon, the most revered monumental sculptor of
America’s twentieth century was the Commissioner of
Fine Arts for five United States Presidents. He was knighted
in Italy and England and was the most prolific monumental
sculptor in history, with over two thousand public monuments
worldwide. His most famous monument is the Iwo Jima War
Memorial in Arlington, VA.
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In
1944, Mr. de Weldon was commissioned to create a cross
for St. Nicholas
Church in Maryland (Official Chapel for the U.S.
Naval Academy).
The church was founded by the Jesuits in 1634 after
the land was given to them by the King of the Patuxent
Indians, Maquacomen.
It took Mr. de Weldon over six months to complete
a 3000 pound marble, life size, sculpture which graces
the altar of St. Nicholas Church |
Hagia
Sophia
Hagia
Sophia from the Greek meaning "Holy Wisdom";
Latin: Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia) is a
former patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, now
a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. Famous in particular
for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome
of Byzantine architecture.
Known as the “Great Church” or “Magna
Ecclesia” in Latin, the first church was
built at the same location where there had been
a pagan temple before. It was Constantius II who
inaugurated Hagia Sophia on 15 February 360. From
the chronicles of Socrates of Constantinople,
we know that the church was built by the orders
of Constantine the Great. This church was largely
burned down in 404 during riots since patriarch
John Chrysostom was sent into exile by the Emperor
Arcadius.
Rebuilt by the orders of Emperor Justinian in
537, for 900 years Hagia Sophia had been the center
of Orthodox Christianity until 1453 when the city
was concurred by Ottomans. Five hundred years
following the conquest of Muslims, it became a
jewel for the Muslim world and as the grand mosque
of the sultans.
In 1935, Hagia Sophia had been converted into
a museum of Turkish Republic by the orders of
Ataturk, and became one of the most significant
monuments not only in Turkey but on earth with
its architecture and its historical richness.
Hagia Sophia was chosen a world heritage site
by UNESCO in 1985.
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