Posted on 04/08/2023 7:32:28 AM PDT by DoodleBob
This Holy Week, Gaudix Cathedral in Granada, Spain, is hosting the exhibition of the first hyper-realistic recreation of the body of Christ based on data obtained from the Shroud of Turin.
The exhibit first opened at Salamanca Cathedral in central Spain and will remain in Granada until June 30, after which it will tour Europe for the remainder of 2023.
The sculpture, made of latex and silicone, weighs about 165 pounds.
The posture is of the deceased Christ in rigor mortis. The legs are somewhat bent, hands crossed at the level of the pubis. There is no false modesty in the figure. The entire body of the man on the Shroud is visible, nothing omitted, including circumcision.
The hair that has been used is human and can be seen all over the body, from the feet to the head with all realism, without leaving out a detail.
When one approaches the figure — with hands behind one’s back in accordance with exhibit rules for visitors — one can observe every pore of the skin, freckles, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
The back is slightly raised, making apparent the lacerations on the head caused by the crown of thorns, and there is a kind of small braid that ties the hair on the back of the head. Also seen are the bruises on the shoulders due to carrying the weight of the cross.
On the skin you can see each of the tearing wounds produced by the scourging and the traces of the nails in the hands and feet, as well as the one between the fifth and sixth ribs on the right side. The nose is broken and the right eye bruised.
A close up of the hyper-realistic model of the crucified Jesus based on the Shroud of Turin. ARTISPLENDORE
While it was on display in his diocese, Bishop Jose Luis Retana Gozalo of Salamanca said that this hyper-realistic representation does not imply a “theological conflict,” because the Mystery has become flesh. On the contrary, “it will be an aid to see the Mystery, a call towards the Mystery.”
In addition to the figure representing the crucified Christ, there is a preliminary exhibit that puts the viewer in context about the reality of the scourging and crucifixion and the research into the Holy Shroud.
The hyper-realistic sculpture tries to present before the viewer a “body of human quality without artistic movement,” without interpretation, made from multidisciplinary scientific data based on studies on the Holy Shroud.
The curator of the exhibition, Álvaro Blanco, who dedicated more than 15 years of research into its realization, gives a lengthy prior explanation of the historical and scientific data that culminates in the hyper-realistic body.
Blanco confessed during the presentation of the exhibition in the sacristy of the Cathedral of Salamanca that at the moment of seeing the finished body he was convinced that “he was before Jesus, he was before the image of the body of Jesus of Nazareth.”
A group of artists created the sculpture under Blanco’s direction.
“The Mystery Man” is presented by ArtiSplendore, a company specializing in cultural and artistic patrimony exhibitions and tourism.
“In the next 20 years we want to go to churches around the world,” said the company’s executive director.
Blanca Ruiz Antón, another spokesperson for the exhibit, told CNA that “Italy will be our next location after Guadix,” adding that though there are no current plans to do so, they “would love to go to the States.”
how wonderful
He looks just like the jesus in the chosen.
I feel like I have a greater appreciation for His sacrifice, and the depravity of sin, because of that movie.
However, The Shroud provides an IMMENSE amount of detail into Our Lord's suffering, and it's not Hollywood or fakery.
I'm sure many people will reply to this thread "I don't need the Shroud" and other dismissive comments. Good for you.
My faith doesn't hinge on the Shroud. But it is certainly bolstered by it.
Eh. Maybe. It is an artists’ conception, based on a legend.
But if you haven’t come to saving faith in Christ, you simply aren’t saved, despite being moved in viewing any object.
Roman Guards were highly skilled and brutal at beating those they were ordered to. For example, in Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" Jesus was near unrecognizable and there wasn't a spot on his upper body, back, chest, head etc that wasn't bruised and bloody. That representation aligned with what I'd visualized from reading about Christ's beating and crucifixion in the Bible and not coincidentally with published medical expert opinions about the condition of Christ's body after the beating, carrying of His cross, and the brutality of His Crucifixion. All of which brought me to tears while visualizing what my Savior did for me.
And so that's why I'm unsure what to think of this representation. I'm not intending to cast dispersion on the article or effort to depict Christ in this moment. Just trying to resolve what I'd visualized with this. Nothing more.
Peace to all this blessed Easter weekend. We serve a Risen Savior!
Amen, Bob. Your last sentence in particular
Dominus meus et Deus meus.
I did notice, while watching The Chosen, how much the person playing Jesus resembled the image on The Shroud.
John 20:29
New International Version
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Very moving.
Thank you for the article.
It does not violate the second commandment, similar to other artistic renderings of Christ, because we are not worshipping the statute.
Fascinating that it shows all the scourge marks on his body. This level detail is not readily visible in most of the iconic images of the shroud available. You have to dig for them.
The more forensic science advances, the more it seems to support the shroud’s authenticity.
How tall?
From Shroud-based research, the Man on the Cloth/Jesus is 6 feet, 2 inches, give or take.
Bttt.
5.56mm
A carpenter that walked a lot, I think those legs could use a little more work.
A little advertisement for Turin (Torino) which is a related topic. Often missed by tourists,Turin comes off as a small upscale American city with lots of shopping.
Attached to the Royal Palace is the chapel built to house the shroud. Both are spectacular, the Chapel of the Shroud is a sublimely beautiful design. Everything recently restored as if brand new.
They also have an Egyptian museum second only to the one in Cairo and again modern and clever design.
Turin sort of reminds me of visiting the great museums in New York City, as they and the city existed 60 years ago.
The shroud, naturally enough, was on tour in the United States when we were in Turin.
Fascinating.
Thank you for posting.
Just watched Passion again yesterday...truly moving.
Will be interesting to see how Gibson does the Resurrection.
As a Baptist, I am convinced of the authenticity.
The Shroud is almost certainly authentic.
The Shroud is NOT a graven image because it was not created by men.
You react strongly, Bob, to the film, as do I. Interesting that God timed the crucifixion for an age when photography did not yet exist.
He is completely capable of generating saving faith without it, so He did not need to wait for photography’s invention nor to hasten its development.
Nor, as you noted, does faith depend on the Shroud.
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