A bronze Crucifixion sculpture was unveiled and blessed on Nov. 1 at the plaza of San Francisco’s Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption. The Archdiocese of San Francisco identifies the work as “Father, Forgive Them,” by Toronto-based sculptor Timothy Schmalz; the San Francisco Chronicle reports that more than 100 people attended the ceremony.
Accounts differ in how they describe the sculpture’s construction and size. The Archdiocese calls it a triptych and gives its length as 50 feet, while the Chronicle describes a five-piece work that is 60 feet wide. The reports do not explain how those descriptions or measurements correspond. The Chronicle says the sculpture is set in concrete; the Archdiocese reports that donor Alex Adamson cited a customs form listing its weight as 27,000 pounds.
The scene moves from Pontius Pilate washing his hands to Mary witnessing her son’s death, with Jesus on the cross at the center, according to the Archdiocese. The Chronicle reports that the sculpture faces west, with Salesforce Tower visible in the distance behind the figure.
The Crucifixion work is the second Schmalz sculpture installed at the cathedral plaza this year. A bronze Saint Francis of Assisi sculpture was installed there in August to mark the 800th anniversary year of the saint’s death, the Archdiocese reports. Cahill Contractors, the cathedral’s original contractor, and Sheedy Crane donated services to deliver and install the Crucifixion sculpture, according to the Archdiocese.
