Death mask

"Louis" of San Francisco Bay Daily Photo correctly guessed who the bust in front of yesterday's narra screen was: St. Ignatius of Loyola (Spanish, 1491–1556), the founder of the Society of Jesus. What pleased me too was the gut reaction of Julie of Sydney Eye ("It looks like a death mask!") because in a way, she was correct too. The bust is bronze and cast by Filipino sculptor and SF Bay resident Earl E. Enriquez from the death mask of Ignatius; or if you want to be precise, from a plaster cast made from his death mask which is kept in the Jesuit archives in Rome. I agree with Mike Rose and Chuck Pefley that the pedestal supporting the bust is not a great choice, but what is intriguing about it is that the height of the pedestal with the bust represents the actual height of Ignatius. Based on the dimensions of his death mask, and a surviving soutane and pair of shoes, it is estimated that San Ignacio de Loyola was 5 feet and 3 inches (160 cm). The bust and screen are part of the "Faces of the Ateneo" exhibit, one of four special exhibits of the Ateneo Art Gallery for its 50th anniversary, running until March 15.