San Xavier del Bac Mission. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
A black and white photograph of the chapel at San Xavier del Bac Mission, which is adjacent to the main structure. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
When I photographed the San Xavier del Bac Mission, I never intended to share the pictures. But as I looked back at them recently, I realized that it was one of the most beautiful places I have visited in all my travels.
On a leisurely drive through the Sonoran Desert, we serendipitously came across the centuries-old, beacon of the Catholic faith, glistening in the Arizona sun. Once inside, I was immediately overwhelmed by the visual complexity of the chapel’s interior. The painted murals, religious sculptures and carved decorative elements are prime examples of the Spanish Baroque style of architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Although some might criticize the pomp and circumstance of the Catholic Church for not following the modest teachings of Jesus, there is something majestic, and perhaps even spiritual, about gathering in a place of worship filled with vivid iconography and reminders that are meant to bring you closer to God.
With my camera in hand, I wanted to record what I saw with still images. At the time, I wasn’t aware that one of the greatest American photographers of the 20th Century, Ansel Adams (1902-1984) also photographed the mission in 1968. In 1974, he donated his black and white picture to the permanent collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (click here to see).
Known in Spanish as La Misión de San Xavier del Bac, the “White Dove of the Desert” was designed by architect Ignacio Gaona and constructed from 1783-1797. It is located just south of the city of Tucson on the San Xavier Indian Reservation, which belongs to the Tohono Oʼodham Nation.
The historic landmark, which is considered one of the most beautiful Catholic missions in the United States and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, replaced the previous mission that was founded nearby in 1692 by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino (1645-1711), who was a Jesuit Missionary.
“Doomsday Mouse” at Mission San Xavier del Bac. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Some of the most interesting artistic elements of the mission include the external façade, which features a sculpted concrete relief of a cat and “doomsday mouse.” It is said that when the cat finally catches the mouse, the world will end.
Another often talked about sculpture is inside the chapel. Many people ask about the “mummy” encased in glass. According to the Arizona Daily Star newspaper, it was originally a sculpture of the body of Christ, following the crucifixion. After losing its legs, when it was moved during the Apache raids of the 1800s, it was eventually reshaped into the figure of Saint Francis Xavier.
With the restoration and conservation work continuing to this day, preserving the intricate beauty and unique personality of the paintings and statuary found within the mission, it is no wonder that visitors have traveled from near and far for centuries on a pilgrimage to attend its services.
One day, I hope to return to the mission to observe many of the religious artifacts that I missed in my first visit and recreate the Ansel Adams photograph for myself. In the mean time, here are some of the pictures I took while I was there, (click here to view other Art Photography by Michael Aaron Gallagher). Enjoy!
– Michael Aaron Gallagher
Balcony at the San Xavier Del Bac Mission. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Pews inside the church. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Religious painting and sculpture inside the church. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Altar at the San Xavier del Bac Mission. In the center, at the very top is a statue of God, depicted with red hair and a red beard. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Jesus on the cross at the San Xavier del Bac Mission. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Statue of Mary, mother of Jesus, at Mission San Xavier del Bac. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
The Last Supper painted mural, depicting Jesus and his disciples, on the wall of the church. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Architectural model of the Mission San Xavier del Bac. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Fountain in the courtyard at San Xavier del Bac Mission. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
Mortuary Chapel through the fence. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.
View of the Mission San Xavier del Bac from a distance with the mountains in the background. Photo by Michael Aaron Gallagher.