Santa Bárbara	page 1 of 2

"A Celebration " Father Jerome Tupa 62 " x 86 " / Oil on canvas 1998

Santa Bárbara Fermín Lasuén, the successor to Father Serra, founded Mission Santa Barbara in April in 1782. After numerous attempts, including an expensive restoration in 1927 that had to be redone because of a chemical reaction in the building materials that weakened the construction, the Mission today appears just as it did in its prime. Of all the paintings in the series, this one shows most clearly how artists add their own impressions to particular works of art. In this paintings Indian figures in masks are dancing in front of the Mission's grand façade. There were, however, no dancers present during Father Tupa's painting excursion. Why do you think Tupa chose to add his impression of Indian dancers to the painting? see the watercolors of Mission Santa Barbara, or click here to see a full-screen image.

Other Mission Santa Barbara sites:
Old Mission, Santa Barbara Parish website. Mission history is actually on the Chumash Story page. Photos can be found at the Photo Gallery.
Santa Barbara from the California Mission History site. The California Mission Site. Ed. The Civic Group. 24 Sept. 1998.
Cemetary history ,Mission Santa Barbara, Copyright © 1997-2002, Interment.net.
About.com's Santa Barbara Mission History is extensive including Native People, Founding Father, Daily Life & Economy, Historical Pictures, Current Pictures, Buildings and Layout, Resources/Bookstore, and Glossary.
1925 Santa Barbara Earthquake: account of the earthquake and photos.
Mission Santa Barbara from the California Missions On-Line Project by Rob Garretson (1998.) Includes virtual views and an assessment quiz.
Virtual Guidebook to Santa Barbara, virtual reality of The Mission. Don Bain (author and photographer of The Virtual Guidebooks)

First posted April, 2001.

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