Administered by Kern County North Chester Bakersfield California
Located Garces Circle Chester & Golden Streets Bakersfield California
Date:
1938-1939. Dedicated May 7, 1939. 1943. Relocated 1956
Notes:
Save Outdoor Sculpture, California survey, 1994.
Image on file.
Burmeister, Eugene, "City Along the Kern: Bakersfield, California, 1869-1969," Bakersfield, CA: Kern Publishing House, pg. 24.
FRANCISCO GARCES/1738-1781/SPANISH FRANCISCAN/PADRE GARCES SEEKING A NEW/ROUTE BETWEEN SONORA, MEXICO/AND MONTEREY ACROSS RIO DE/SAN FELIPE (KERN RIVER MAY 7 1776) AT RANCHERO MIGUEL, NOW BAKERSFIELD./FIRST RECORDED/WHITE MAN IN THE LOCALITY HE/BROUGHT CHRISTIANITY TO THE INDIANS/AND ON RIO COLORADO HIS BRAVE/LIFE WAS CROWNED WITH MARTYRDOM/GREATER LOVE HATH NO/MAN THAN THIS-THAT A MAN/LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS (...transcription illegible)
The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.
Summary:
Father Francisco Garces stands wearing a Franciscan habit. He holds a wide-brimmed hat and a rosary in his proper left hand and a staff with a cross on top in his proper right hand. The sculpture is mounted on a rectangular base with scenes depicting the life of Father Garces. One scene includes an Indian kneeling in front of an open fire with a bow lying on the ground next to him.
