Sanctuaries of Earth, Stone, and Light: The Churches of Northern New Spain, 1530-1821Over nearly three centuries, Jesuit, Franciscan, and Dominican missionaries built a network of churches throughout the Ònew worldÓ of New Spain. Since the early twentieth century, scholars have studied the colonial architecture of southern New Spain, but they have largely ignored the architecture of the north. However, as this book clearly demonstrates, the colonial architecture of Northern New SpainÑan area that encompasses most of the southwestern United States and much of northern MexicoÑis strikingly beautiful and rich with meaning. After more than two decades of research, both in the field and in archives around the world, Gloria Fraser Giffords has authored the definitive book on this architecture. Giffords has a remarkable eye for detail and for images both grand and diminutive. Because so many of the buildings she examines have been destroyed, she sleuthed through historical records in several countries, and she discovered that the architecture and material culture of northern New Spain reveal the influences of five continents. As she examines objects as large as churches or as small as ornamental ceramic tile she illuminates the sometimes subtle, sometimes striking influences of the religious, social, and artistic traditions of Europe (from the beginning of the Christian era through the nineteenth century), of the Muslim countries ringing the Mediterranean (from the seventh through the fifteenth centuries), and of Northern New SpainÕs indigenous peoples (whose art influenced the designs of occupying Europeans). Sanctuaries of Earth, Stone, and Light is a pathbreaking book, featuring 200 stunning photographs and over 300 illustrations ranging from ceremonial garments to detailed floor plans of the churches. |
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adobe aisles Alta California appear apse arch architecture Arizona artists attribute of Saint Baja California Baja California Sur baptismal baptistery baroque bell tower bishop bricks Capilla carved Catedral de Chihuahua Cathedral of Chihuahua Cathedral of Durango chalice chapel chapter 12 choir Christ Christian church inventories churches of northern cloth collateral altars colonial color columns convento cross crown decorative dome Durango Eucharist examples figure Fourteen Holy Helpers Franciscan friars Holy Jesuit Jesus Juan Lady Latin liturgical main altar María Mary Mexican Mexico City mission churches missionary molded motifs mudéjar nave niches northern New Spain ornamental painted plaster portrayed priest Purísima Concepción religious images Renaissance retablo robe sacred sacristy San Ignacio San José San Miguel San Xavier sanctuary sculpted sculpture Señora de Guadalupe side portal silver Sinaloa Sombrerete sometimes Sonora Spanish stone style symbol Teresa of Ávila throughout northern transept Tucson vault vestments Virgin walls wood Xavier del Bac Zacatecas