Salvator Mundi mosaic on the façade of Christus Rex Church

Technique: mosaic, ceramics

Object:

The façade of the Christus Rex Church in Gdańsk, built between 1931 and 1932 to the design of architect Czesław Świałkowski, features a tondo depiction of the Salvator Mundi (Saviour of the World) in mosaic technique. The ceramic composition is in a range of reds, blues, beiges, bronzes and gold, which fills a large part of the mosaic’s field.

The main compositional axis is a bust of Christ, with an oval face with shoulder-length hair, parted in the middle and combed to both sides, and a short beard. His right hand is stretched upwards in a gesture of blessing, while the left one holds the orb and cross (Latin: globus cruciger). The red outline of the cross is inscribed into a halo symbolising the Passion of Christ. Jesus’ wide-open, deeply set eyes ooze tenderness. On both sides of his face are the monograms IC XC, abbreviations of the Greek words: Jesus (IHCOYC) Christ (XPICTOC).

The mosaic was most likely designed by the painter Stanisław Chlebowski, one of the more prolific artists active in the Free City of Gdańsk in the interwar period.

Place:

The mosaic is on the façade of the Christus Rex Church at 55 bł. ks. Franciszka Rogaczewskiego Street in Siedlce district. Nearby is a square with a statue commemorating father F. Rogaczewski, the first priest of the parish.

Information about the author:

Stanisław Wincenty Chlebowski (b. 30 July 1890 in Braniewo, d. 1969 in Gdańsk) was a Polish painter and draughtsman. In 1909, he graduated from the Municipal Middle School in Gdańsk. He then studied architecture at the Technical School (Technische Hochschule Danzig), obtaining the title of engineer in 1915. During his studies in Gdańsk, he also had painting lessons under the supervision of Prof. Fritz August Pfuhle, among others. He continued his studies in Dresden and Belin, in Lovis Corinth’s studio. In Gdańsk, he ran a painting workshop on Fleischergasse (present-day Rzeźnicka). Most of the artist’s works are kept at the National Museums in Gdańsk.

Condition of the object: good

Owner/guardian: Roman Catholic Paris dedicated to Christus Rex in Gdańsk

Author of the entry: Andrzej Zagrobelny