(http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2004/01/2/MNGC74KEA71.DTL&o=1)
This is the reredos, or decorative altar, of Mission San Francisco de Asis, or Mission Dolores, in San Francisco. It is a spectacular reredos that contains history, beauty, and the religion of the mission. It was placed in the mission just a few years after the permanent building was finished and has been there ever since to be appreciated by church goers.
The painted wooden reredos has carved statues of the Archangel Michael and the Blessed Virgin with her parents on either side. Jesus Christ is in the center, on the crucifix, surrounded by the the statues. The reredos has columns, gold accents, and geometric shapes. It is detailed and intricate, but it all works well together. It is in Baroque style, which was extremely popular with the Catholic church from the late 16th century to the late 18th century. Baroque started in Europe and spread to Latin America, where it was especially embraced by Latin American Catholic churches. Baroque work was made to impress people, bring out their religious feelings with intense emotions, and show power. The Catholic church used it to show people the glorious power in the Catholic faith. The mission altar is extremely Baroque in its design and the strong emotions it encourages.
The reredos is about the elegant greatness of Catholicism. It is calm and strong, beautiful and powerful--all of the things that I think the church wanted the Native Americans and church visitors to see in their faith. The bodies of the statues are in motion, appearing intense, realistic, and strong. The huge size and impressive detail show strength, power, and glory to anyone who stands before it--whether they are Catholic or not.
I saw this reredos on my honeymoon and was amazed by its grandeur. While researching the missions for assignment 4a, I saw it online and remembered how impressed I had been. It is an intense piece of art to see in real life. Just by looking at it you can tell it is old and authentic. When I saw it, I did not know it was in Baroque style, or what Baroque style is. I have since learned about it, and it is amazing because all the emotions that the style tries to bring out were totally brought out in both me and my husband when we saw it (and neither of us are Catholic). The reredos is huge, detailed, and rich in emotion. It drew me in and made me feel like I was in the presence of something amazing, which is the goal of Baroque style.
The reredos was made in San Blas, Mexico and sent to the mission in 1796 by ship. It arrived in pieces and was extremely impressive when assembled. There are also two side altars, like little reredos, which were sent from Mexico in 1810. I would like to know why they were sent from Mexico instead of being made in California. Was the skill so much better in Mexico that it was worth it? Was San Blas a special place to get reredos? How were they shipped so they could arrive safely? Also, how much work (time, money, skill, planning) did it take to make the reredo? I would like to know all this information, but it seems as if the only information really available is about the reredos already being at the mission.
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