CHURCH OF JESUS

LA SAGRADA FAMILIA

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

On September 13th of 1723, the bishop GABRIEL ARREGUI laid the stone foundation to start to build the temple of LA SAGRADA FAMILIA. In the course of a work accident occurring one year later, the architect in charge met his demise and the construction came to a standstill. After 10 years (on September 15th) building activities began anew and work was concluded on September 3rd 1735.

AFTER 261 YEARS (1996)

THERE HAD SUPPORTS

Archdioceses of Cusco and European Union.

Foundation telefonica

Due to its ruinous conservation this temple is being restored.

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

FACADA

Is rendered and accordingly treated as a masonry canvass of rectangular form.

The front is slightly set forth from the line of the façade composed of three tiered orders.

FIRST:

The column with shafts of salomonic type, a simulated splinting links

Engages the six columns upon which rise a split arch front on the upper part of which is set the choir fenestration.

The culmination of the façade consists of an ornamental border. Or frieze, with circular adornments atop which rests the cornice.

Above the two opposite ends of this cornice rise two bell gables each composed of two levels or tiers.

Between the aforementioned two gables lies the third “tier” or “storey” consisting of three niches, each containing sculpted images alluding to: First Niche: Saint Joachim Second niche: Jesus, Mary Joseph and the eternal father, Third Niche: Santa Ana.

The church is composed of only one nave of rectangular plan with Latin cross form and small recesses: two on the right and three on the left in which lie situated five beautiful altarpieces.

In the entrance area, a stone stairway leads to the choir and the ceiling covering of the temple.

In the inner walling surface of the church is of polished stone, with slaked lime stucco covering overlaid with mural painting in the semblance of marble on a sky-blue background, executed sometime in the 19th century.

This mural artwork and the plasterwork upon which it was painted were in a deplorable state of conservation before restoration work was undertaken. For which reason the entire mural underwent consolidation in order to avoid complete loss.

The ceiling of the temple is composed of five groined vaults the transept vault being the largest by virtue of the location at that point of the transept lantern.

All of the vault are constructed of rectangular ribbed brickwork and delineated at their end-point by an archivolt.

In the sector corresponding to the presbytery lies situated the impressive high altar of baroque style with two lateral sacristies.

The structure communicates with the principal cathedral building by means of doorway. Outstanding amongst the pictorial works of art extant within the temple is the oil on canvas painting of Antonio Sinchi Roca. titled la EUCARISTIA (the eucharist).

AT THE FOLLOWING WE WILL SEE THE SUMMARY OF EACH REREDOS

ALTARPIECE (or REREDOS) OF CRISTO REDENTOR (CHRIST REDEEMER)

This altarpiece is composed by 3 vertical divisions and 2 tiered levels where in the center we see the sculpted image of Christ enthroned well crowned.

The altarpiece (or reredor) is made in cedar wood. Gilded and burnished in 18 carat gold leaf.

On both sides it displays columns ornamented with caryatids and atlanteans .

In the lower part of the center aisle we see a polychrome wooden frontal in the middle of which can be observed a portrait of San Antonio Abad.

And above we see two tabernacles the first one is an ancient that is covered with the representation of the virgen del Rosario the second one is a revolving door wherein lies the image of the virgen de Fatima.

In the either side of the first tier we see two niches with 2 archangels and in the right side of the second tier we see a Jesuit saint and in the left side we see to saint Dominic (Santo Domingo). All those are coping with the sculpted image of Christ enthroned.

ALTARPIECE (OR REREDOS) OF CRISTO DE LA CAIDA

This altarpiece or reredos is composed by only one vertical division and one tiered level which in the central niche contain a sculpted image of CRISTO DE LA CAIDA, as well as there are two columns, a tabernacle and mirror work topping. The entire altarpiece is decorated with over 250 mirrors.

In the lower part of the central niche we see a tabernacle with the sculpted image of Jesus the good shepherd. At lower part we see polychrome and gilded wooden table frontal. Finally this reredos is topping with mirror work.

ALTARPIECE (REREDOS) OF THE VIRGIN OF COPACABANA
This reredos or altarpiece is composed by 2 tiers and 3 aisles (you can say also is composed by three vertical divisions and 2 tiered levels.

The reredos has plateresque style made of polychrome cedar wood; it is topped by a medallion bearing the keys of saint peter.

In the main niche we see the sculpted image of the virgin of Copacabana, which dates from 1642.

In the lower part we see the altarpiece table or mesa (mesa de retablo)

On the either side of the first tier we see to Saint John the Baptist (San Juan bautista) and saint Anne (Santa Ana).

In the second tier we see in the right side Christ at the column and in the left side we see the flagellation of Christ bearing the cross, also known as el señor de la vara o de la caña.

In the central niche of the second tier we see the virgin of the assumption.

REREDOS OF THE HIGH ALTAR

This altarpiece or (high altar) is composed by 3 tiers and 3 aisles. This reredos is made with cedar wood gilded and burnished in 22 carat gold leaf.

In the central niche of the second tier we see a tabernacle with the representation of the sacred Family executed in haute relief. And in addition to in either side we see a niche with the sculpted image of saint francis of Borja and saint Ignatius of Loyola.

Below this we see a tabernacle with lateral stairs and seven pointed candelabra, all covered in embossed cusco silverwork. We also see a frontal of embossed silverwork.

If you see in the both sides you will note the painting of the return from Egypt (contemporary painting) and the flight into Egypt.

In the center of the second tier we see a niche with sculpted images of the holy family and in the either sides we see a sculpted image of saint joachim and saint anne.

ALTARPIECE OF LA VIRGEN DOLOROSA

This altarpiece is composed by only one tier at the middle of which is place the virgen dolorosa.

It possesses two columns with corintian capitals.

The entire altarpiece is decorated with mirror work, embossed woodwork in addition to all altarpiece is gilded and burnished 18 carat gold leaf.

In main niche we see the sculpted image of nuestra señora de la dolorosa(our lady dolorous) or de las 7 puñaladas.

In the lower part we see a niche containing the sculpted image of el señor de la vara, (our lord of the staff); justo juez (righteous judge or señor de la caña, polychrome and gilded wooden table frontal with gouged carving.

ALTARPIECE OF LA VIRGEN DEL CARMEN

This altarpiece or reredos is composed by only one tier and one aisle where we see Virgen del Carmen.

This reredor has a baroque style carved in cedar wood, gilded and burnished in 18 carat gold leaf.

In the lower part we see a polychrome and gilded wooden table frontal with gouged carvings.