Retablo Mission San Jose is a photograph by Alexandra Till which was uploaded on June 16th, 2014.
Title
Retablo Mission San Jose
Artist
Alexandra Till
Medium
Photograph - Photographs - Prints - Digital Images - Cards - Posters - Photo-calendars - Photo Art
Description
© Christine Till
About 1720 Spain established a number of missions near what is now San Antonio, Texas. The Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo was the largest of the four missions and most successful. It is also known as the "Queen of the Missions".
The church at San José with an elaborate Baroque façade and an intricately carved Rose window is the Mission's centerpiece. Its interior's focal point, a nearly floor-to-ceiling retablo by famed Mexican Catholic artist Agustin Parra, borrows elements from the mission’s carved façade and colors. Made from red cedar it's painted primarily in grayish blue, a color unique to this mission that matches the original hues found above the choir loft. The center of the retablo holds the tabernacle and a crucifix with red blood, flowing locks of hair and tan skin. The retablo's chambers accommodate statues of the Virgin Mary, St. Michael, St. Francis and the original St. Joseph belonging to Father Antonio Margil de Jesús - founder of Mission San José - but kept in storage for decades. Some of the retablo’s decorative elements are painted in 24-karat gold leaf.
The Mission San José church has an enduring impact on San Antonio. It is an icon, cherished by the area's largest religious group and critical to San Antonio tourism.
Uploaded
June 16th, 2014