The Serra Cenotaph in Carmel Mission
by RicardMN Photography
Title
The Serra Cenotaph in Carmel Mission
Artist
RicardMN Photography
Medium
Photograph
Description
The Junipero Serra Cenotaph, unveiled on 12 October 1924, was designed and executed by renowned local artist Jo Mora (1876-1943), who considered it "the supreme professional effort in my life." It was originally intended for placement over Serra's grave in the sanctuary of the church, but as the scope of the project increased, it was decided to place it here, in the first restored room of the mission quadrangle.
Mora used artistic license to portray a deceased Serra attended by those buried along with him in the sanctuary since Serra's longtime friend and fellow-Majorcan Father Juan Crespi, standing at his head, actually predeceased him. Fathers Fermin Lasuen and Julian Lopez kneel at his feet. A California Grizzly Bear cub rests at Serra's feet, symbolic of the state he nutured at birth, and the bronze and California travertine marble base depicts scenes from his life.
The large wooden cross on the wall in front of you was also designed by Mora, with figures of Christ (top); Saint Francis of Assisi (left); Saint Anthony of Padua (right); and Saint Charles Borromeo (bottom). (From http://www.letsgoseeit.com)
Mission San Carlos Borromeo del rio Carmelo, also known as the Carmel Mission, is a Roman Catholic mission church in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
The mission was the headquarters of the Alta California missions headed by Father Junipero Serra from 1770 until his death in 1784. It was also the seat of the second presidente, Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen. The mission buildings had fallen into disrepair by the mid-19th century, but were restored beginning in 1884. It remains a parish church today. It is the only one of the California Missions to have its original bell tower dome.
Junipero Serra, (November 24, 1713 - August 28, 1784) was a Spanish Franciscan friar who founded a mission in Baja California and the first nine of 21 Spanish missions in California from San Diego to San Francisco, which at the time were in Alta California of the Las Californias Province in New Spain. He began in San Diego on July 16, 1769, and established his headquarters near Monterey, California at Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo.
The missions were primarily designed to convert the natives. Other aims were to integrate the neophytes into Spanish society, and to train them to take over ownership and management of the land. As head of the order in California, Serra not only dealt with church officials, but also with Spanish officials in Mexico City and with the local military officers who commanded the nearby presidios (garrisons).
FEATURED PHOTO, Doors and Gates group, 12/18/2013
FEATURED PHOTO, Art form the Past group, 12/18/2013
FEATURED PHOTO, Artists News group, 12/20/2013
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December 14th, 2013
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Christopher James
Congratulation.....your wonderful work has been featured in the 1000 Views on 1 Image Group ..... Feel free to place your featured image in the Features Archive and any Genre specific Archive l/f/p
Nadine and Bob Johnston
Published in the Internet publication ARTISTS NEWS.... You Can use Ctl-C to copy the link: http://paper.li/f-1343723559 and Ctl-V ..... to put it into your the Browser Address bar, to view the publication. If you are subscribed, YOU or Friends can ..... Tweet, FB, and email, a copy of the publication, to just anyone you know would be interested.