The Iceman Crucified series encapsulates some of Fasanella’s most powerful and poignant artistic themes. His father — Joe the Iceman — is cast as the crucified Christ to explore ideas of suffering and sacrifice, memory and personal growth. The series was a turning point for Fasanella; his artistic vision broke free from the confines of realism and his imagery became deeply personal.
As a child, Ralph worked alongside his father on his ice delivery route, putting in long hard days on tough streets. Iceman Crucified #4 was the final work in and pinnacle of the series. In it Fasanella encompasses old and new worlds and is simultaneously nostalgic and celebratory. The Christ figure is transformed into a heroic presence, serene and full of grace. The traditional INRI is replaced with the phrase that came to be equated with the artist himself: “Lest We Forget” — a clear message to viewers to remember who we are and where we come from.
- Title
-
Iceman Crucified #4
- Artist
- Date
- 1958
- Location
- Dimensions
- 36 x 25 in. (91.4 x 63.5 cm)
- Copyright
-
© 1958, Estate of Ralph Fasanella
- Credit Line
-
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Gift of the estate of Ralph Fasanella
- Mediums Description
- oil on canvas
- Classifications
- Highlights
- Keywords
-
- Religion – New Testament – Crucifixion
- Figure male
- Italian
- Figure group
- Object Number
-
2013.69
- Palette
- Linked Open Data
- Linked Open Data URI