Trey Duncan ’21

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On the second floor of the library, a large statue sits alone in the center of the room. The dark hooded figure is instantly recognizable and can be seen from almost every part of the library.

What is it?

The statue is named The Raven.  It portrays an ancient monk.

With a book before him and a candle in his left hand, this monk looks like a figure from the Spanish Inquisition. The book, a Bible, presents him as a judge with divine authority. 

Under the dark robes, the monk is a skeleton, an agent of death!

“It’s probably one of the scariest piece of art on the campus,” Mr. Autry, the new library assistant, remarked.

The Raven was only recently moved.

“It used to be in the hallway between the 200 and 300 buildings, and I remember that we would have our entrance exams there. Some of the younger brothers of the students who were testing would be scared by that statue. So they moved it out and put it in the library,” Mr. Autry commented.

According to Mr. Autry, the statue has been at Strake Jesuit for just over a decade–since 2008–until its relocation to the library. People familiar with the wide array of sculptures and artwork around the campus know that most of these works were given to the school by one man, and this statue is no exception.

Perhaps the real purpose of The Raven is less symbolic, guarding the library, keeping watch for students who step out of line.