This document summarizes a presentation given by Dr. Rubén G. Mendoza about the history, ideology, and everyday life of Franciscans in the New World. It includes photos from various Spanish missions in California depicting religious artwork, artifacts, and architecture from the missions. It also includes images of paintings from Chile depicting the life of St. Francis of Assisi that help illustrate Franciscan beliefs and practices brought to the New World. The presentation analyzed these images to better understand the Franciscans' influence and role in spreading Catholicism in the colonial period.

1. History, Ideology and Everyday Life of Franciscans in the New World
Presented by
RUBÉN G. MENDOZA, PhD, RPA
CSU Monterey Bay
NEH Landmarks Fourteenth Colony Workshop, Carmel, CA – July 11, 2013

2. “Through the singing of a rapturous Canticle of the Sun…we peer
deeper into the glowing sunset and there we perceive the Flaming
Countenance of Infinite Goodness, Truth, and Beauty.”
Sister M. Michaeline O.S.F. 2011

3. The Last Supper, Mission San Gabriel, California. Photo © Ruben G. Mendoza, 2013.

4. The Holy Virgin from Bishop’s bedboard, Crucifix of
Corpus of Jesus, and Moral Doctrine, Mission San
Gabriel, California. Photos © Ruben G. Mendoza, 2013.

5. Church door, baptismal font, and santos or saints, San
Gabriel, California. Photos © Ruben G. Mendoza, 2013.

6. Bishop’s night stand, pozolera or mission kitchen, and
majolica earthenware platters, San Gabriel, California.
Photos © Ruben G. Mendoza, 2013.

7. The Ramona grapevine originally planted in 1774, base
and canopy of vine, and wine press, San Gabriel,
California. Photos © Ruben G. Mendoza, 2013.

8. El convento de la Iglesia de San Francisco, Santiago, Chile, hoy es el Museo Colonial,
y aún en sus murallas permanecen los 42 lienzos que narran la vida de San Francisco y
que fueron realizados en Cuzco, Perú, y que datan de 1684.
Marcela Tapia, Aurora de Chile
The convent of the Iglesia de San Francisco, Santiago, Chile, is today the Colonial
Museum, and on its walls there remain 42 lienzos or paintings that narrate the life of
San Francisco that were realized in Cuzco, Peru, and that date to 1684.
Marcela Tapia, Aurora de Chile

9. Object Analysis
•Drawing on the following images of the life of Saint Francis of Assisi as your point of
departure, please write down at least one adjective, or descriptor, that first comes to
mind for at least ten of those images reviewed.
•
In grammar, an adjective is a 'describing' word; the main syntactic role of which is to
qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified (cf.
Wikipedia.com).
•Write the adjectives or descriptors into the right-hand portion of your journal, and as
time avails, please comment on your use of such descriptors and what they have to
say about the lives and ideas of the Order of Friars Minor in the left-hand portion of
your journal.
•Please key the image to the adjective used by way of the number used to identify
each image. We will revisit your use of adjectives during the Master Teacher breakout sessions.

10. 1
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

11. 2
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

12. 3
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

13. 4
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

14. 5
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

15. 6
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

16. 7
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

17. 8
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

18. 9
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

19. 10
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

20. 11
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

21. 12
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

22. 13
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

23. 14
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

24. 15
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

25. 16
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

26. 17

27. 18
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

28. 19
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

29. 20
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

30. 21
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

31. 22
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

32. 23
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

33. 24
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

34. 25
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

35. 26

36. 27

37. 28

38. 29
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

39. 30
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

40. 31
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

41. 32
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

42. 33
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

43. 34
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

44. 35
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

45. 36
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

46. 37

47. 38
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

48. 39
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

49. 40
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

50. 41
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

51. 42
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

52. 43
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

53. 44
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

54. 45
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

55. 46
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

56. 47
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

57. 48
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

58. 49
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

59. 50
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

60. 51
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

61. 52

62. 53
Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de San Francisco,
Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.

63. Paintings of the life of Saint Francis in the
Museo Colonial de San Francisco, Iglesia de
San Francisco, Santiago, Chile. Photo courtesy
of the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State
University, Tempe.
54

64. Object Analysis – Findings
•Please consider those adjectives selected for at least 10 of those images reviewed in
the foregoing images.
•What do you believe your choice of adjectives has to say about what you perceived
from the 17th century paintings of the Iglesia de San Francisco in Santiago, Chile?
•Viewed as narratives, or as objects amenable to analysis, do you believe that this
brief overview of Franciscan imagery can serve to frame an understanding of the
Order of Friars Minor?
•Finally, where possible, please group your selection of 10 adjectives into themes that
take into account activities, behaviors, gender, customs, icons, belief, and
personalities, etc. Do such groupings further serve to define your impressions of the
paintings and their themes?

65. Acknowledgements
Iglesia de San Francisco photos courtesy
Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State
University, Tempe, Arizona, 2013.
•Special thanks to Dr. Gary Keller,
Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State
University, Tempe, Arizona
NEH Landmarks of American History and
Culture: Workshop for Teachers, K-12
•The Fourteenth Colony: Native
Californians, Missions, Presidios, and Colonists
on the Spanish Frontier, 1769-1848
All other photos © Ruben G. Mendoza,
2013