“Christ of the Abyss” Statue – A Look at Guido Galletti’s Famous Work

Submerged in the waters of San Fruttuoso, Italy, one can find Guido Galletti’s Christ of the Abyss statue. The original clay version was discovered in 1993 in an old foundry. There are several copies of the famous statue around the world, such as the Christ of the Abyss in Key Largo.

The Story of the Christ of the Abyss Statues

Several Christ of the Abyss statues exist worldwide, and not all are underwater, so the answer to “where is it?” isn’t simple.

The first “Christ of the Abyss” statue is submerged in the sea near Portofino, Italy, on the Italian Riviera.

Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso, Liguria; The original uploader was Yoruno at Italian Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Initial Bronze in San Fruttuoso, Italy (1954)

The bronze statue, submerged about 17 meters (56 feet) deep, was lowered onto the seabed on the 29th of August, 1954, a week later than the planned 22 August ceremony, which rough seas had forced to be postponed, at the suggestion of Italian diving pioneer Duilio Marcante, who wanted to honor his friend and fellow diver Dario Gonzatti. Gonzatti, the first Italian to use scuba equipment, had died at that spot in 1947.

Guido Galletti sculpted the statue, its arms raised in a gesture of blessing. It stands 2.5 meters tall, cast from bronze donated for the purpose, including ships’ bells, submarine propellers, and medals from Olympic athletes and fallen soldiers.

The cove of San Fruttuoso, Italy; Pjt56 — If you use the picture outside Wikipedia I would appreciate a short e-mail to [email protected] or a message on my discussion page, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Following Marcante’s passing, a plaque was erected at the foot of the monument in his honor. In 2003 the statue was lifted out of the water for restoration after corrosion and a hand broken off by an anchor, and it returned to the seabed in July 2004. A joint team of Italian state divers — fire brigade, Carabinieri, finance police, state police, coast guard and navy, coordinated by the heritage authority — now cleans it every year with pressurized water instead of the wire brushes once used, after conservators found the brushes were scarring the bronze.

“The Christ of the Abyss” statue has become a popular tourist attraction for scuba divers from all over the world. There are several diving centers in San Fruttuoso, Italy that offer dives for visitors who want to see the monument.

Because of the shallow water and closeness to the bay, the descent to the location where the underwater Jesus statue is situated is not very challenging. If you opt to dive into the water, you will not only locate the monument you seek but also the remains of the Croesus, a British steamship sunk nearby during the Crimean War.

The Grenada Copy (1961)

There is another bronze sculpture, cast from the same mold as the first. Unlike its Italian and Floridian counterparts, this casting stands on dry land: it faces the harbor from the pedestrian promenade of the Carenage in St. George’s, Grenada. It commemorates the loss of the Bianca C, an Italian ocean liner nicknamed the “Titanic of the Caribbean.” 

A blast happened in the boiler room on the 22nd of October, 1961, when the ship was docked in St. George’s.

Locals deployed their fishing boats promptly and evacuated all 672 passengers and crew; one crewman was killed in the explosion itself, and two others later died of their burns. They set up a temporary hospital to attend to the injured while also welcoming others into their homes. Two days later, the ship went down near Grand Anse Beach.

Costa Line presented this “Christ of the Deep” statue replica in recognition of the courageous efforts of the Grenadians.

The American Copy (1965)

The Christ of the Abyss in Key Largo is the third bronze cast from Galletti’s original mold. It was donated to the Underwater Society of America by the Italian diving-equipment manufacturer Egidio Cressi and unveiled at the society’s 1962 convention at the Palmer House hotel in Chicago. Afterward, the monument was stored at O’Hare Airport while a permanent home was arranged. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo was eventually chosen, but there was no funding yet to move the statue there.

In 1963, the statue moved to Orlando for display while its concrete base, weighing about 20 tons, was completed.

Christ of the Abyss near Dry Rocks reef, Key Largo. The statue sits in about 25 feet of water, with its raised hands closer to the surface; Serge Melki from Indianapolis, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Why place the statue underwater, where few could see it, was debated. It continued its tour of the Florida Keys in January 1964, stopping at treasure hunter Art McKee’s diving museum.

In the spring of 1965, the monument was delivered to Pennekamp Park after the concrete base and other preparations were completed.

The statue was lowered onto its base near Dry Rocks reef on August 25, 1965. Weeks later, on September 8, 1965, Hurricane Betsy struck the Keys with Category 3 winds. The newly placed statue withstood the storm undamaged.

Christ of the Abyss statue near Key Largo; 巫迪文, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Three Statues at a Glance

Only two of the three need diving or snorkeling gear: the Grenada casting can be seen on foot at any time, while reaching the Italian and Floridian statues means booking a boat out of San Fruttuoso or Key Largo.

Take a look at our Christ of the Abyss webstory here!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Were the Christ of the Abyss Statues Created?

Each casting has a different origin. The original in Italy honors Dario Gonzatti, an early Italian scuba diver who died at the site in 1947. The Grenada casting was a gift of thanks after islanders rescued nearly 700 passengers and crew from the burning Bianca C in 1961. The Key Largo casting began as a donation from Italian diving-equipment manufacturer Egidio Cressi to the Underwater Society of America, which later chose Key Largo as its permanent site.

How Does One View These Statues?

It depends on the casting. The Grenada statue stands in the open on the Carenage promenade and needs no gear at all. The Italian and Floridian castings are reached by boat and require snorkeling or diving. The Key Largo statue sits on the seaward side of the Dry Rocks reef, which is shaped like a hand with sand pathways between the fingers; a marker buoy sits above the statue, and the reef’s open center is home to a wide range of soft corals. Because Dry Rocks is a moderately shallow dive site, it suits both snorkelers and divers.

What Happened to the Original Clay Model of the Statue?

Guido Galletti modeled the statue in clay before it was cast in bronze, and the clay original was thought to be lost for decades. It resurfaced, missing its arms, in an Italian foundry in 1993. Conservators restored it, and it is now on public display at the National Museum of Underwater Activities in Ravenna, Italy.

Isabella Meyer( Head of Content, Editor, Art Writer )

Isabella studied at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English Literature & Language and Psychology. Throughout her undergraduate years, she took Art History as an additional subject and absolutely loved it. Building on from her art history knowledge that began in high school, art has always been a particular area of fascination for her. From learning about artworks previously unknown to her, or sharpening her existing understanding of specific works, the ability to continue learning within this interesting sphere excites her greatly.

Her focal points of interest in art history encompass profiling specific artists and art movements, as it is these areas where she is able to really dig deep into the rich narrative of the art world. Additionally, she particularly enjoys exploring the different artistic styles of the 20^th century, as well as the important impact that female artists have had on the development of art history.

Learn more about Isabella Meyer and the Art in Context Team.