Resumen de Polychrome wooden ceilings at jesuit churches built in Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, México) during the 17th and 18th centuries: Technical analysis & social awareness
The province of Nueva Vizcaya (the current day Mexican states of Chihuahua and Durango) was founded as a consequence of the military and religious conquest which took place in the North of New Spain (Mexico) in 1562. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Franciscan missionaries and Jesuits established missions throughout Nueva Vizcaya, with the explicit goal to congregate and evangelize the local natives. At the same time, other settlements called Royal Mines were established as result of a growing mining industry. Opportunities in mining brought Spaniard migration to the region which saw the settlement of villages, agricultural haciendas, and military towns, known as presidios. As the central axis of these towns, churches were built that functioned not only to evangelize the natives, but also to serve the Spanish and Creole religious communities (Chapter IV).
The state of Chihuahua has an inventory of more than 280 historical churches. The construction system of these churches varies due to the complexity and rich ornamental decoration linked to the many socio-economic influences of the population, the missions, and the religious order of the time. In the case of the Nueva Vizcaya mission, churches built by the Franciscans maintain a certain sobriety and simplicity, with some exceptions. Within the range of Jesuit missionary architecture, it is possible to find simple structures, however, a great majority are distinguished by their complex and ornate architecture, as well as by artwork from well-known artists at that time.
This PhD thesis aims to identify and analyze the materials and manufacturing techniques from the 17th and 18th century polychrome wooden ceilings found in Jesuit mission churches in Nueva Vizcaya. The aim of this comprehensive analysis is to enhance the social, cultural, and historical-artistic value of these significant churches, and to promote interest in the urgent need for their conservation and in the sustainable development of their local communities. The four selected churches that make up the case studies in this thesis were built under the influences of the Society of Jesus (Chapter V). In addition to sharing their Jesuit influence, geographic region, and decorative motifs, they have been selected based on their artistic and structural singularity (Chapter VI sections 6.1 and 6.2). This thesis has been organized into 3 chapters and 8 sections that correspond to the geo-historical context of the churches, to the architectural and art historical study of polychrome ceilings, and finally, conclude with the case studies which include discussions of sample selection, characterization, as well as technical and analytical testing and outcomes. In addition, a glossary has been included (section X. Glossary) of the terms marked with an asterisk (*) in the different sections. Finally, section XI of the index contains the credits of the images and the schemes, grouped in order by chapters and sections.
The analytical outcomes of this thesis have identified a fusion of traditional pigments from the Old World with, what were at the time, newly encountered American dyes. In order to identify native materials used in the pigments, natural resources (those that could have been used to decorate the ceilings) from the geographic area of study were documented and collected during the development of this project. This was made possible with the participation of community members together with botanists, and geologists.
