The Christ with the Crown of Thorns sculpture is one of Bory Jenő’s important works and can be seen in two locations: in the lower garden of Bory Castle and on the Bory family funerary monument in Csutora Cemetery, Székesfehérvár. The original work is at the castle, while a copy stands in the cemetery.
- Location of the funerary monument: Székesfehérvár, Csutora Cemetery, Plot IV, Row 5, Grave 32. The memorial is under local protection (HÉ 2008/42).
The central element of the Bory family funerary monument is the monumental head of Christ, carved by Bory Jenő after the Second World War from limestone from the Kökényes quarry. The work was originally intended for his own family grave, but the technical and financial means of the time did not permit the movement and transport of the enormous stone block, more than one metre high. The sculpture consequently remained in the collection of Bory Castle for many years.
The sculpture depicts Christ with closed eyes and a crown of thorns upon his head. The face does not show the dramatic moment of suffering, but conveys a state of contemplation, calm and inner peace. Framed by long hair, the bearded face and its delicately modelled features communicate the ideas of redemption and spiritual elevation. The head of Christ is approximately 1–1.20 metres high and, together with its naturalistic stone base, forms a composition almost one and a half metres high.
In Bory Jenő’s original conception, this monumental sculpture would have stood upon the family grave, but this could not take place during his lifetime. A smaller head of Christ in artificial stone was therefore placed above his parents’ grave in Csutora Cemetery in 1952. The artist’s original intention could be fulfilled only much later: in 2002 a copy of the monumental limestone head of Christ was placed on the family funerary monument, taking the position envisaged for it by its creator. The original is on view in the lower garden of Bory Castle.