Photos: Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Updated
The restored Statue of the Immaculate Conception, circa 1790, is returned to its niche high above the retablo mayor at historic Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016. Action Scaffolding erected the structure and pulley for raising the statue into place with help from docents, an engineer and art conservators Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio, who restored the statue to it’s original splendor.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The restored Statue of the Immaculate Conception sits quietly before being lifted into its niche at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Matilde Rubio, left, helps position the Statue of the Immaculate Conception prior to being raised to its niche at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Art conservator Tim Lewis helps wrap the Statue of the Immaculate Conception with bubble wrap prior to being lifted into place at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Protected with bubble wrap, the Statue of the Immaculate Conception is moved to the base of the scaffolding to be hoisted aloft at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Workers and volunteers inch the Statue of the Immaculate Conception into place inside the scaffolding prior to being lifted into place at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
It’s a beehive of activity on the scaffolding as workers and volunteers prepare to raise the Statue of the Immaculate Conception at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Workers from Action Scaffolding along with docents and volunteers carefully lift the Statue of the Immaculate Conception during a test run up the scaffolding at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
A winged Mary watches over the volunteers working on the Statue of the Immaculate Conception at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Conservator Matilde Rubio grimaces as the Statue of the Immaculate Conception tips slightly while being hoisted into place at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Art conservators Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio pose for a picture next to the Statue of the Immaculate Conception on scaffolding after the statue was safely moved into its niche at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Courtesy Jeff Landers
- Updated
Conservators Matilde Rubio and Tim Lewis with the restored Statue of the Immaculate Conception after it was moved into place at Mission San Xavier del Bac on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Cortesía Matilde Rubio
- Updated
Cortesía Matilde Rubio
Before its restoration, the statue was in an alcove at Mission San Xavier.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Courtesy Matilde Rubio
- Updated
Tim Lewis gently vacuums debris from a cavity in the Statue of the Immaculate Conception from San Xavier Mission in the workshops of Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio in 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Courtesy Matilde Rubio
- Updated
Tim Lewis uses a remote video to examine the cavity in the Statue of the Immaculate Conception from San Xavier Mission in the workshops of Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio in 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Courtesy of Matilde Rubio
- Updated
The refreshed look of the Immaculate Conception shows thin red lips and a slight dimple on the chin. The mission is a living church, says Matilde Rubio, and needs constant attention.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Courtesy Matilde Rubio
- Updated
Restoration of the Statue of the Immaculate Conception from San Xavier Mission in the workshops of Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio in 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Cortesía Matilde Rubio
- Updated
Cortesía Matilde Rubio
Prior to restoration: Statue of the Immaculate Conception from San Xavier Mission in the workshops of Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio in 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Courtesy of Matilde Rubio
- Updated
Tim Lewis gently restores the nose on a figure at the statue’s base.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Courtesy Matilde Rubio
- Updated
Restoration of the Statue of the Immaculate Conception from San Xavier Mission in the workshops of Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio in 2016.
Statue of the Immacuate Conception
- Photos by Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Conservators Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio measure the statue of the Immaculate Conception at their San Xavier workshop.
workshop in San Xavier Mission south of Tucson on April 28, 2016.
Statue of the Immacuate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Conservators Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio remounted a glass eye and replaced a missing earring with a pearl.
Statue of the Immacuate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio look at string and seeds found in a mouse hole at the bottom of the statue. Cracks ran up and down the wooden body and the paint “was like corn flakes.”
Statue of the Immacuate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The restored statue of the Immaculate Conception. Paint was removed to expose her dark blue robe.
dark blue robe in the workshop of Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio near San Xavier Mission south of Tucson on April 28, 2016.
Statue of the Immacuate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The restored statue will be returned to its niche when church doors close Monday.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
Art conservator Tim Lewis helps wrap the Statue of the Immaculate Conception with bubble wrap prior to being lifted into place at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
Protected with bubble wrap, the Statue of the Immaculate Conception is moved to the base of the scaffolding to be hoisted aloft at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
Workers and volunteers inch the Statue of the Immaculate Conception into place inside the scaffolding prior to being lifted into place at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
It’s a beehive of activity on the scaffolding as workers and volunteers prepare to raise the Statue of the Immaculate Conception at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
Workers from Action Scaffolding along with docents and volunteers carefully lift the Statue of the Immaculate Conception during a test run up the scaffolding at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
Conservator Matilde Rubio grimaces as the Statue of the Immaculate Conception tips slightly while being hoisted into place at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immaculate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
Art conservators Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio pose for a picture next to the Statue of the Immaculate Conception on scaffolding after the statue was safely moved into its niche at Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson on May 2, 2016.
Statue of the Immacuate Conception
- Photos by Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
Conservators Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio measure the statue of the Immaculate Conception at their San Xavier workshop.
workshop in San Xavier Mission south of Tucson on April 28, 2016.
Statue of the Immacuate Conception
- Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
The restored statue of the Immaculate Conception. Paint was removed to expose her dark blue robe.
dark blue robe in the workshop of Tim Lewis and Matilde Rubio near San Xavier Mission south of Tucson on April 28, 2016.
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La estatus de la Virgen María, en su forma de la Inmaculada Concepción, ocupa un nicho muy por encima del retablo mayor de la Misión
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