The History of CHRISTUS REX
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Lake Charles American Press - December 12, 1964
A metallic work of Sculptor David G. Parsons is silhouetted high over the alter in St Michael’s. The head, arms and feet were fashioned of welded steel then covered with bronze and gold leaf. The suggestion of the robe, symbol of royalty, was made of steel covered with enamel and gold. The body, or garment, is covered in front with white porcelain, then with gold, while the back is covered with bronze. 
photo from Sallyport Newsletter, Rice University. -- Sculpture as seen in the original A-frame building.
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SALLYPORT NEWSLETER, Rice University, Houston TX April 1981
…. Another recognizable though faceless piece (of Parson’s work) is a soaring eight-foot sculpture of Christ in front of a cross. The piece was commissioned by an Episcopal church in (Lake Charles) Louisiana, but the members gave Parsons few directions. “They called to say they had seen my work and could I do a Christus Rex on a cross.” This incongruous combination of Christ in robed glory nailed to the cross puzzled Parsons. “The only other suggestion came from a woman in the congregation. She called me at my studio in Houston to say, ‘David, make it joyful.’ So those were the requirements.”
Parsons wanted the glow of Rembrandt’s Christ and the luminous white-hot heat of Grunewald’s Messiah. Instead of depicting a suffering savior, Parsons erected the cross behind the floating, eight-foot Christ figure which reached out in a gesture of blessing. He left the hooded face in shadow so each observer could project his imagined visage onto the soaring figure, and he covered the piece with bronze, porcelain, and gold to express the radiance he felt was essential.
DAVID G. PARSONS
A memorial service was held in Houston on Saturday October 14, 2006 for DAVID G. PARSONS, a long-time professor at Rice University, a gifted artist, sculptor and thinker.
…. Another recognizable though faceless piece (of Parson’s work) is a soaring eight-foot sculpture of Christ in front of a cross. The piece was commissioned by an Episcopal church in (Lake Charles) Louisiana, but the members gave Parsons few directions. “They called to say they had seen my work and could I do a Christus Rex on a cross.” This incongruous combination of Christ in robed glory nailed to the cross puzzled Parsons. “The only other suggestion came from a woman in the congregation. She called me at my studio in Houston to say, ‘David, make it joyful.’ So those were the requirements.”
Parsons wanted the glow of Rembrandt’s Christ and the luminous white-hot heat of Grunewald’s Messiah. Instead of depicting a suffering savior, Parsons erected the cross behind the floating, eight-foot Christ figure which reached out in a gesture of blessing. He left the hooded face in shadow so each observer could project his imagined visage onto the soaring figure, and he covered the piece with bronze, porcelain, and gold to express the radiance he felt was essential.
DAVID G. PARSONS
A memorial service was held in Houston on Saturday October 14, 2006 for DAVID G. PARSONS, a long-time professor at Rice University, a gifted artist, sculptor and thinker.