Mission San Xavier
by Bob Hislop
Title
Mission San Xavier
Artist
Bob Hislop
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
FEATURED ARTIST
All Arizona 09/22/2021
Vertical Images 01/23/2021
Just Perfect 01/15/2021
Images that Excite 01/20/2021
USA Photographers Only 01/15/2021
Exploration Photographers 01/14/2021
FAA Professionals 01/14/2021
Your Story of Art 01/14/2021
Your Very Best Photography 10/25/2017
AAA Images 03/17/2015
Arizona Fine Art 06/19/2013
Waiting Room Art 06/16/2013
Comfortable Art 06/16/2013
Visual Voice 06/15/2013
Social Media Marketing 06/15/2013
The Mission San Xavier, or the "White Dove of the Desert" is about ten miles south of Tucson, AZ on the Tohono O'odhan Indian Reservation. The church was originally built by the Jesuits in 1692. It has been a work in progress since then. The dome on the left tower, as the story goes, has been left unfinished awaiting the "Master Builder".
Outside, San Xavier has a white, Moorish-inspired design, elegant and simple, with an ornately decorated entrance. No records of the architect, builders, craftsmen and artisans responsible for creating and decorating it are known. Most of the labor was provided by the local Indians, and many believe they provided most or all of the artisans as well. Visitors entering the massive, carved mesquite-wood doors of San Xavier are often struck by the coolness of the interior, and the dazzling colors of the paintings, carvings, frescoes and statues. The interior is richly decorated with ornaments showing a mixture of New Spain and Native American artistic motifs.
Today, the Mission is open to the public daily, except when it is being used for church services. The San Xavier Festival is held the evening of the Friday after Easter and features a torch-light parade of Tohono O'odham and Yaqui tribal members. Extensive restoration efforts in the late 20th century have restored the interior to its historic splendor. Extensive exterior restoration is continuing (as of June 2007 the left tower was completely enclosed in scaffolding). Concrete stuccoing added in the 1980s is being removed as this material was found to trap water inside the church which damaged the interior decoration. This modern stucco is being replaced with the traditional mud plaster, including pulp from the prickly pear cactus, that "breathes" better to allow excess water to escape but requires more regular inspection and higher maintenance costs. Following extensive and ongoing restoration of the interior decorations, the mission church interior now largely appears in its original state, with brilliant colors and complex design.
Fine art Nature, Wildlife and Landscape photography prints, posters, canvas prints, greeting cards and stock images by Bob Hislop � All rights reserved 970-623-5525. WATERMARKS WILL NOT APPEAR ON PURCHASED IMAGES.
Uploaded
June 15th, 2013
Statistics
Viewed 865 Times - Last Visitor from Cupertino, CA on 03/28/2024 at 1:02 AM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet