The Saint Francis Chapel at the Museum of Man

The Saint Francis Chapel

(notes from the plaque at the museum)

The St. Francis Chapel is a reproduction of a Mission chapel built in the Spanish Colonial style. It was designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue and Carleton M. Winslow as an exhibition for the 1915 Panama California Exposition.

The altar screen is carved in low relief, gassed, and painted. The figure at the very top of the altar piece is St. Joseph. In the corner is Mary holding the baby Jesus. To the left is the figure of St. Francis Xavier, patron of the Jesuit religious order which colonized many villages in Arizona and New Mexico. To the right is San Diego de Acala (St. James of the Acala), the name saint of San Diego.

The carved portrait heads above the statues are of Santa Isabel (St. Elizabeth of Hungary) on the left and Santa Clara (St. Claire of Assisi). Below are the portrait heads of San Buenaventuta (St. Bonaventure), Bishop of Albana, and San Luis (St. Louis), Bishop of Tolouse, both Franciscans and patrons of California Missions.

To the right of the altar is a statue of San Antonio de Padua (St. Anthony of Padoa). The crucifix and candle holders are in the tradition of the Spanish Renaissance.

Read more about San Diego Museum of Man.

See all photos of San Diego Museum of Man.

Photo by Larry