San Xavier del Bac Mission Facade, (sculpture).

San Xavier del Bac Mission Facade, (sculpture).

Llorens, Juan Bautista, b. 1756, architect.

San Xavier del Bac Mission Facade, (sculpture).

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: plaster; Facade: plaster over brick or rubble or saguaro rib skeletons.

5 figures. Each figure: approx. 3 x 2 x 1 ft.

(On front of building:) A Landmark of American Music/San Xavier del Bac Mission/First mass celebrated/with music in the Southwest/1798/Tucson./Presented by the/National Music Council/The Arizona Music Educators/Association and Exxon. (On plaque on front of building:) SAN XAVIER DEL BAC/HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A/REGISTERED NATIONAL/HISTORIC LANDMARK/UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE/HISTORIC SITES ACT OF AUGUST 21, 1935/THIS SITE POSSESSES EXCEPTIONAL VALUE/IN COMMEMORATING AND ILLUSTRATING/THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES/U.S. DEPT. OF THE INTERIOR/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE/1965

Ornately decorated facade of historic mission. The facade is decorated with plaster over various substrates and has four niches each of which holds a figure of a saint. At the top of the facade is a figure of Saint Francis of Assisi wearing a corded habit. In the niche on the top left side of the facade is a figure of Saint Barbara wearing classical robes and a crown. In the niche on the top right side of the facade stands a figure of Saint Cecilia carrying a tambourine or cymbal under her proper right arm. The niche on the lower left side of the facade holds a figure of Saint Catherine of Siena wearing a classic robe. The niche on the lower right side of the facade has a figure of St. Lucy, dressed in classical robes. She holds a plate in front of her; her eyes are on the plate.

Religion -- Saint -- St. Francis

Religion -- Saint -- St. Barbara

Religion -- Saint -- St. Cecilia

Religion -- Saint -- St. Catherine

Religion -- Saint -- St. Lucy

Outdoor Sculpture -- Arizona -- Tucson

Architectural component

San Xavier del Bac Mission, 1950 West San Xavier Road, Tucson, Arizona 85746

The Mission, which has more than 90 sculptures associated with it, is registered as a National Historic Landmark. The Mission has been restored many times, including a major restoration undertaken in 1993. As part of the various restorations, the exterior sculptures have been installed in different sites on the church. IAS files contain article from The Phoenix Gazette, June 13, 1993; and excerpts from Richard Ahlborn's "The Sculpted Saints of a Borderland Mission," Tucson: Southwestern Mission Research Center, 1974, which gives history of church and detailed descriptions of sculpture. IAS photo files contain images of nearby lion head sculptures from the Mission in addition to images of the facade.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Arizona survey, 1993.

Ahlborn, Richard, "The Sculpted Saints of a Borderland Mission: Los Bultos de San Xavier Del Bac", Tucson: Southwestern Mission Research Center, 1974, pg. 42-43.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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