Fray Hermenegildo Francisco Garces, (sculpture).

Fray Hermenegildo Francisco Garces, (sculpture).

Fleck, Joseph, 1884-1970, sculptor.

Fray Hermenegildo Francisco Garces, (sculpture).

Dedicated Oct. 21, 1928.

Digital Reference:

Figures: granite; Base: petrified wood with a concrete covering.

Sculpture: approx 100 x 91 x 79 in.; Base, three tiers, overall: approx. 91 x 91 x 79 in.

(Bronze plaque framed by petrified wood on front reads:) BORN APRIL 12, 1738/DIED JULY 19, 1781/FRAY/HERMENEGILDO FRANCISCO/ GARCES/DARING EXPLORER, ZEALOUS/MISSIONARY AND UNFAILING/FRIEND OF THE YUMA INDIANS/PADRE GARCES FOUNDED THE YUMA INDIAN MISSION AND/NEARBY GAVE HIS LIFE/FOR THEIR SOULS/HIS FAITH WAS UNSHAKABLE/HIS HOPE WAS TRANQUIL/HIS CHARITY JOYOUS/HIS ZEAL TRIUMPHANT.

(Back, bronze plaque:) SITE OF MISSION/LA PURISIMA CONCEPCION/1780-1781/OCTOBER OF 1780 FATHER FRANCISCO GARCES AND/COMPANIONS BEGAN MISSION LA PURISIMA CONCEPCION/THE MISSION-PUEBLO SITE WAS INADEQUATELY SUP-/PORTED. COLONISTS IGNORED INDIAN RITES, USURPED/THE BEST LANDS AND DESTROYED THE BEST CROPS. COM-/PLETELY FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED, THE QUECHANS/(YUMAS) AND THEIR ALLIES DESTROYED CONCEPCION/ON JULY 17-19, 1781./CALIFORNIA REGISTERED HISTORICAL LANDMARK NO. 350/

PLAQUE PLACED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS/AND RECREATION IN COOPERATION WITH THE QUECHAN/TRIBAL COUNCIL, THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO,/IMPERIAL VALLEY PIONEERS, AND SQUIBOB CHAPTER/E CLAMPUS VITUS, OCTOBER 9, 1982.

A full-length, cloaked figure of Father Garces. He holds a cross in his proper right hand. He looks down at two figures, an angel and a kneeling Indian, who wears a grass skirt, arm and wrist bands and necklace of teeth and beads. The Indian is carrying a bow in his proper left hand. The angel holds a palm frond in front of the cross held by Garces.

Portrait male -- Garces, Hermenegildo Francisco, Father -- Full length

Occupation -- Religion -- Clergy

Ethnic -- Indian -- Quechan

Emblem -- Cross

Religion -- New Testament -- Angel

Object -- Foliage -- Palm

Outdoor Sculpture -- California -- Winterhaven

Administered by St. Thomas Indian Mission, P. O. Box 11352, Yuma, Arizona 85366

Located St. Thomas Indian Mission, Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, Fort Yuma Hill, Winterhaven, California 92283

Father Tiburtius Ward conceived of idea for statue around 1926. Rev. Perschl Nicholas and Brother Wendelin Hottinger assisted in construction of base. IAS files contain copies of several news articles, sections from the Charles Russell Quinn book, and copies of some photos from the Arizona Historical Society.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Arizona survey, 1992.

Quinn, Charles Russell, "St. Thomas Indian Mission and the Forgotten Colorado River Mission at the Historic Yuma Crossing," Downey, CA: Elena Quinn, 1968.

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

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System