New Video: The Face of Christ

Nic Fiddian-Green

Source: Christian Art

Chiselling the Divine: A British Sculptor's sacred quest.

In this new video from Christian Art, Fr Patrick van der Vorst visits a London gallery where British sculptor Nic Fiddian-Green is exhibiting a body of work entitled 'The Face of Christ'. The artist, best known for his monumental sculptures-particularly his striking depictions of horses, many in public spaces in capitals across the world-has turned his attention in this new series to a single question: What did Christ look like?

Before delving into the work, Fr Patrick narrates a brief history of how Christ has been depicted through the ages. Early frescoes from the Roman catacombs show him as the Good Shepherd or a teacher-symbols of his mission rather than his appearance. By the 6th century, icons like the Christ Pantocrator from Sinai attempted both likeness and theology, capturing his dual nature: human and divine. Later, Renaissance masters such as Leonardo and Michelangelo portrayed Christ's face as a site of deep encounter-where divinity breaks through time and flesh.

Today, the search continues with artists like Nic Fiddian-Green. Fr Patrick tours the London exhibition, beginning with I Accepted (2025), a life-size bronze of the crucified Christ hanging on the main wall. Nic explains the origin of the title: it came from several visitors to his studio who felt that the figure of Christ, with his head bowed, embodied a sense of 'acceptance.' The sculpture, they said, invites viewers into an intimate sharing-not only in the suffering of the crucifixion, but in the quiet endurance of everyday pain.

A documentary film accompanies the exhibition, offering a glimpse into Nic's studio in Surrey, nestled in the English countryside. We see him sketching, exploring nature, and demonstrating the physically demanding process of working with bronze. Reflecting on the sharpness of the thorns, Nic explains how making them connected him more deeply to the brutal reality of the crucifixion-yet also to its spiritual significance. As he worked, he felt as though he were crowning Christ himself with the piercing thorns. Wanting to transform that violence into beauty, he finished them in 22-carat gold-drawing together the divine and human forces at work in Christ, the crucified King.

When asked whether he feels he has 'found' the face of Christ, Nic reflects: "I have found something of the face of Christ… but I have a long way to go." He explains that if he were to spend the rest of his life exploring this subject, he would be drawn to depict Christ in the context of the Resurrection-a far more complex and demanding challenge. He concludes: "I am closer to Christ in his suffering than in who or what Christ became after the miracle of the Resurrection."

Credits: Camera - Moses Fiddian Green Producer - Emmett Glynn

The video features several clips from the documentary 'The Face of Christ' Directed by Dominic Gilday and Cinematography by Moses Foses Fiddian-Green.

Special Thanks: Nic Fiddian-Green. Sladmore Gallery, Jermyn St, London

Watch the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdbU6hVZ4UQ