The Old Franciscan Missions Of CaliforniaJames, George Wharton
Religion
The Old Franciscan Missions Of California
James, George Wharton
Franciscans -- California; Spanish mission buildings -- California
"The first struggle will be not to arouse sympathy but to
inform with slow patience and long wisdom the wide-spread
sympathy which already exists. We cannot take the Indians out
of the hands of the National Government; we cannot take the
National Government into our own hands. Therefore we must
work with the National Government in any large plan for the
betterment of Indian conditions.
"The League means, in absolute good faith, not to fight, but
to assist the Indian Bureau. It means to give the money of
many and the time and brains and experience of more than a
few to honest assistance to the Bureau in doing the work for
which it has never had either enough money or enough
disinterested and expert assistance to do in the best way the
thing it and every American would like to see done."
CHAPTER XXXIII
MISSION ARCHITECTURE
The question is often asked: Is there a Mission architecture? It is not
my intention here to discuss this question _in extenso_, but merely to
answer it by asking another and then making an affirmation. What is it
that constitutes a style in architecture? It cannot be that every
separate style must show different and distinct features from every
other style. It is not enough that in each style there are specific
features that, when combined, form an appropriate and harmonious
relationship that distinguishes it from every other combination.
As a rule, the Missions were built in the form of a hollow square: the
church representing the _fachada_, with the priests' quarters and the
houses for the Indians forming the wings. These quarters were generally
colonnaded or cloistered, with a series of semicircular arches, and
roofed with red tiles. In the interior was the _patio_ or court, which
often contained a fountain and a garden. Upon this _patio_ opened all
the apartments: those of the fathers and of the majordomo, and the
guest-rooms, as well as the workshops, schoolrooms and storehouses.
One of the strongest features of this style, and one that has had a wide
influence upon our modern architecture, is the stepped and curved sides
of the pediment.
This is found at San Luis Rey, San Gabriel, San Antonio de Padua, Santa
Inés, and at other places. At San Luis Rey, it is the dominant feature
of the extension wall to the right of the _fachada_ of the
main building.
On this San Luis pediment occurs a lantern which architects regard as
misplaced. Yet the fathers' motive for its presence is clear: that is,
the uplifting of the Sign whereby the Indians could alone find
salvation.
Another means of uplifting the cross was found in the domes--practically
all of which were terraced--on the summits of which the lantern and
cross were placed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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