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The intricate carving is really something. The top tier you have a cat and mouse on each side. Legend has it that the world would end if the cat ever catches the mouse. Also, the two lions on either side — one is female and one is male.
Details of the facade include depictions of the crops that the O’odham people grew, such as squash, grapes, watermelons, wheat, beans and corn. These plants are easily seen in the top section. Also in the top section are male and female lions. Note that they do not look like African lions, but they look like the puma or mountain lions that the O’odham people would have been familiar with. Interestingly, the lions are said to represent the king and queen of Spain because Arizona was still part of Spain when San Xavier was built.
Fellow longtime conservator Matilde Rubio said she was struck by how many of the original pigments — iron-oxide red, ochre yellow, manganese black and white lime wash — can still be found in the nooks and crannies of the façade, including spots that are nearly impossible to see from the ground.
Conservation project manager Starr Herr-Cardillo said she was surprised by how intricate the original detailing work was from close up. “It was very painterly up there. You can see brushstrokes,” she said. “To think that it’s been up there for 200 plus years in extreme sun, heat, weather and crazy temperature swings — those are pretty harsh conditions for materials, and there’s still so much there.”
Details of the facade include depictions of the crops that the O’odham people grew, such as squash, grapes, watermelons, wheat, beans and corn. These plants are easily seen in the top section. Also in the top section are male and female lions. Note that they do not look like African lions, but they look like the puma or mountain lions that the O’odham people would have been familiar with. Interestingly, the lions are said to represent the king and queen of Spain because Arizona was still part of Spain when San Xavier was built.
Fellow longtime conservator Matilde Rubio said she was struck by how many of the original pigments — iron-oxide red, ochre yellow, manganese black and white lime wash — can still be found in the nooks and crannies of the façade, including spots that are nearly impossible to see from the ground.
Conservation project manager Starr Herr-Cardillo said she was surprised by how intricate the original detailing work was from close up. “It was very painterly up there. You can see brushstrokes,” she said. “To think that it’s been up there for 200 plus years in extreme sun, heat, weather and crazy temperature swings — those are pretty harsh conditions for materials, and there’s still so much there.”