Architecture of the California Missions

Kurt Baer

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Year: 2023
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9780520345799
• Topic: Architecture
• Subtopic: History of Architecture

Architecture of the California Missions by Kurt Baer, with photographs by Hugo Rudinger, offers a deep dive into the architectural legacy of California's historic missions. Rather than simply providing a history or a guide to these iconic buildings, this work is a scholarly study of the stylistic influences and architectural forms that shaped these structures. Baer examines the classical Roman, Moorish, Mexican baroque, and primitive elements that influenced the design of the missions, grouping them according to the distinct styles that are most prominently represented in the surviving buildings. The book carefully explores how these missions, built in a short span during a time of Spanish decline and political turmoil, reflect both the aesthetic aspirations and the practical limitations of their time. With much of the archival information lost and only romanticized sketches remaining, Baer reconstructs the history and style of these buildings based on existing structures, old photographs, and available documents. Accompanied by Hugo Rudinger's evocative bromoil photographs, which capture the simplicity and timeless beauty of the missions, this work provides a unique visual and narrative journey into California's architectural past. It's a must-read for architecture enthusiasts and anyone fascinated by the history and legacy of California's mission era.

This title was originally published in 1958.

Many titles in the Voices Revived program are also newly available as ebooks, offered at a discounted price to support wider access to scholarly work.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents 1
• I Introduction
• II Architectural Styles of the Missions
• THE SOURCES OF THE STYLES
• THE BUILDING MATERIALS
• THE ARCHITECTURAL TYPES
• III Characteristics of the Missions
• THE MISSION PLAN
• ARCADES
• BELFRIES
• THE ESPADAÑA
• THE CAMPANARIO
• TOWERS
• THE CHURCH NAVE
• THE CHOIR
• SCULPTURAL DECORATIONS
• READING LIST
• IV The Existing Missions
• MISSION SAN DIEGO DE ALCALÁ
• MISSION SAN LUIS REY DE FRANCIA
• MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
• MISSION SAN GABRIEL ARCÁNGEL
• MISSION SAN FERNANDO REY DE ESPAÑA
• MISSION SAN BUENAVENTURA
• MISSION SANTA BARBARA VIRGEN Y MÁRTIR
• MISSION SANTA INÉS VIRGEN Y MÁRTIR
• MISSION LA PURÍSIMA CONCEPCIÓN
• MISSION SAN LUIS OBISPO DE TOLOSA
• MISSION SAN MIGUEL ARCÁNGEL
• MISSION SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA
• MISSION NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA SOLEDAD
• MISSION SAN CARLOS BORROMEO
• MISSION SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
• MISSION SAN FRANCISCO DE ASÍS
• V Missions That Time Has Destroyed
• MISSION SANTA CRUZ
• MISSION SAN JOSÉ
• MISSION SANTA CLARA
• MISSION SAN RAFAEL ARCÁNGEL