The sculpture The Trinity of the Grandfather belongs to the broad family of Romanian devotional monuments which, until the beginning of the 20th century, replaced churches when poverty or war prevented the construction of places of worship.

The work represents the bust of Jesus Christ, executed in terracotta and fixed with screws onto a wooden board. On the front face of the base appears the stamped inscription “Trinity of the Grandfather,” indicating that it was created in his honor.

The work measures 62 × 35 × 4.5 cm. It is not dated, but bears the signature “C.B.” on Christ’s left hand, near the wrist. It is decorated only on its front side, where Christ’s face displays the characteristics of Byzantine icons: large eyes, a small mouth, a straight and slender nose, and slightly wavy hair and beard.

On the lateral sides, two pillars, each composed of four rhythmic elements, symbolize channels of energy connecting heaven and earth, through which spiritual communication between humanity and the divine takes place.

In the upper section, the roof is surmounted by a seraph, carved in outline. On Christ’s bust, two pairs of simplified hands, shaped like propeller blades, can be discerned, symbolizing the circulation of energy and matter. These elements may be interpreted as follows:

• the first pair of hands represents those of praying Christians, the foundation of Orthodoxy;

• the second pair represents those of the Savior, who receives the energy of the prayers and transmits it to God the Father through the seraphim, guardians of paradise and sacred places.

Finally, on the right shoulder, near the chest, one can see the outline of a cross, symbolizing the carrying of the cross toward the place of crucifixion.

This Trinity is the first work in which Brancusi employs plastic metaphor, motif, and symbol rendered through artistic means; in essence, the work constitutes a synthesis of Orthodox faith.

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