A Gift of Angels: The Art of Mission San Xavier del Bac (Southwest Center Series) [Hardcover]

Bernard L. Fontana (Author), Edward McCain (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2010 | Series: Southwest Center Series

It rises suddenly out of the Sonoran Desert landscape, towering over the tallest tree or cactus, a commanding building with a sensuous dome, elliptical vaults, and sturdy bell towers. There is nothing else like it around, nor does it seem there should be. This incongruity of setting is what strikes first-time visitors to Mission San Xavier del Bac. This great church is of another place and another time, while its beauty is universal and timeless.

Mission San Xavier del Bac is a two-century-old Spanish church in southern Arizona located just a few miles from downtown Tucson, a metropolis of more than half a million people in the American Southwest. A National Historic Landmark since 1963, the mission's graceful baroque art and architecture have drawn visitors from all over the world.

Now Bernard Fontana--the leading expert on San Xavier--and award-winning photographer Edward McCain team up to bring us a comprehensive view of the mission as we've never seen it before. With 200 stunning full-color photographs and incisive text illuminating the religious, historical, and motivational context of these images, A Gift of Angels is a must-have for tourists, scholars, and other visitors to San Xavier.

From its glorious architecture all the way down to the finest details of its art, Mission San Xavier del Bac is indeed a gift of angels.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Weighing in at almost ten pounds, Fontana and McCain's effort promises to be comprehensive, and in some ways it is. The Mission, we learn, was first Jesuit, then Franciscan, was completed in 1797 on the Northern frontier of what was then New Spain and is now outside Tucson, and was built to evangelize the native people, the O'odham, who also provided most of the labor. There follows an overview of the structure and art on display, and a breakdown covering every painting and statue found inside. Fontana, an anthropologist who worships there, discusses each saint depicted in great depth. While not uninteresting, these mini-histories aren't specific to the Mission, and this, coupled with the fact that each artwork is discussed on its own rather than in context, makes it hard to get a sense of the place as a whole. Though the diagrams and photographs are lovely, readers may wish for a better sense of the spirit of the place people call The White Dove of the Desert and the Sistine Chapel of the New World. For that, perhaps, a pilgrimage is in order. 175 color photos. (Oct.)
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Review

"A symphony of words and images and a fitting homage to the early Southwest's greatest architectural monument. This book is a stunning achievement." --John P. Schaefer, former president of the University of Arizona and co-founder of the University of Arizona's Center for Creative Photography

"I found Edward McCain's photographs of Mission San Xavier del Bac a delight and a revelation. A delight just because they are wonderful photographs and a revelation when the photographs reveal the church better than the eye can." --John Loengard, author of As I See It and veteran LIFE magazine photographer

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 376 pages
• Publisher: University of Arizona Press (October 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816528403
• ISBN-13: 978-0816528400
• Product Dimensions: 14.1 x 12 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #775,172 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beutiful tribute to an amazing place. A true work of art in and of itself., October 27, 2010

By 

Ted J. Crews "AZ KRMNLATTY" (Phoenix, AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Gift of Angels: The Art of Mission San Xavier del Bac (Southwest Center Series) (Hardcover)

Author Bernard "Bunny" Fontana and photographer Edward McCain have created a beautiful masterpiece of photograhy and historical accounting of the art treasures contained within San Xavior. It is obvious this work was a passionate undertaking by these two. I had the luxury of knowing the author's son and therefore was able to be given updates throughout the course of the book's development. I can share that the end result exceeded everyone's expectations. I just purchased another copy as a gift for my own mother. This book is the epitomy of "a labor of love." We now have a rich and fulfilling record of the art and history of this important and cherished southwest Mission. At nine pounds, this book is substantial. But the artfullness of the pictures and story told through the words exceed the weight of the book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a Gift of Angels, November 26, 2010

By 

Carolyn lenz (TUCSON, AZ, US) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Gift of Angels: The Art of Mission San Xavier del Bac (Southwest Center Series) (Hardcover)

this book was purchased new as a birthday gift for a friend. The photographs are beautiful. Ed McCain takes wonderful photos.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Title says it all "A Gift of Angels", November 5, 2010

By 

Carl Bruss "BigCB" (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Gift of Angels: The Art of Mission San Xavier del Bac (Southwest Center Series) (Hardcover)

Tucson, Arizona has the best church in the United States of America. The San Xavier Mission is the sistine chapel of the Southwest dessert. The history will take you by surprise and the mission will capture your heart like no other church has ever done before. For the people that go every weekend they call it home, but for the people that come to visit, they call it magical. This book will show the art, history and beautiful preservation of one of the oldest mission in the world. Bernard L. Fontana is a great author that really shows a side of this dessert jewel like no other before him. This book will not last long for sure and to have it is like having a piece of history in your very own book collection. Enjoy! We love you Bernard with love from Carl your alter boy.