Beginning Friday, Nov. 1, the exhibit will present a pair of recently purchased watercolor paintings by noted California plein air artist Elmer Wachtel (1864-1929), who created the pieces in the early 1900s.
The unique pair of watercolor paintings by Elmer Wachtel depict portions of the Mission’s south wing, Sala and Great Stone Church ruins. The paintings were purchased from Colin Young, Fine Art of Early California, with privately donated funds. They are the first paintings in the Mission’s collection by this influential California artist, and are important additions to the Mission’s historic art collection which the staff hopes to continue to develop with donations and purchases of significant, Mission-related works of art.
Also added to the exhibit’s priceless collection are several personal items which belonged to the Great Restorer (1910-33) of Mission San Juan Capistrano, Father St. John O’Sullivan, including his rosary and a water pitcher.
Another change to the Mission Treasures exhibit includes moving the Mission’s original birth, death and marriage registers to the safe keeping of the Diocese Archives. It is a result of an effort to preserve and protect the delicate historic paper documents in accordance with generally accepted conservation guidelines.
Mission Treasures: Historical Collection Revealed features rare paintings, precious religious and historic artifacts, and documents related to the Mission’s history. They are treasures because of their connections with the people and place of Mission San Juan Capistrano and unique representations of the past.
About Mission San Juan Capistrano:
Known as the “Jewel of the Missions,” Mission San Juan Capistrano is a historic landmark and museum that boasts of quality permanent exhibits featuring original artifacts as well as traveling and temporary exhibits on a wide variety of topics.
The site itself serves as a living outdoor museum with original buildings constructed by Native Americans in the 18th century including the Serra Chapel, Great Stone Church, and the original padres’ quarters of the South Wing.
The Mission was founded on November 1, 1776 by Padre Junipero Serra as the seventh in the chain of the twenty-one California missions established by Spain, and is Orange County’s only mission. Every year, over 50,000 students visit the Mission and engage in an inspirational learning experience via the Mission Matters programming, as part of their State required California history studies.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is owned by the Diocese of Orange and is supported by the Mission Preservation Foundation, which is comprised of business and community leaders committed to ensuring the long term preservation and viability of Orange County’s only Mission. The Mission receives no funding from either the Church or the State of California and charges admission funds as a means of providing public access.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is located at 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Open Daily 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Good Friday afternoon. Admission is $9 adults; $8 seniors (60 years or over); $6 children (ages 4 to 11); and children ages 3 and under are admitted free. Free audio guide with senior and adult admission. For more information, call (949) 234-1300 or visit www.missionsjc.com.
