“It will be a privilege for Winchester Cathedral to exhibit this sculpture…” said Canon Keith Walker, talking about Tortured Humanity by Doru Imbroane Marculescu, which will be installed in the Nave of Winchester Cathedral during the seven weeks of Lent, Passiontide and Easter this year.

This 2.4m high bronze, depicting the dilemmas of modern times, a continuation of the tragedies of the past, is offered as a symbol of unity for all – irrespective of their religion, race and culture. It has previously been exhibited in Westminster Cathedral, Great St Mary’s, Cambridge, St Giles Oxford and St Martin in the Fields in London. In it, all of humanity is perceived as taking on a cruciform shape and the suffering love of Christ is recognized as involved in, and bearing up the whole.

The statue will be blessed at the 5.30pm Sung Eucharist on Ash Wednesday, and there will be a concurrent exhibition of oil paintings and the original artwork that inspire it at Maltby Contemporary Art, 3a, Great Minster Street, Winchester.