Silhouette or Not. Baptistery, Iglesia San Marcelo, Lima, Peru
In 1551 two Augustinian Friars from Salamanca, Spain arrived on these shores. Soon there were monastic buildings on this site and a first church (1554) was designed by Esteban de Amaya and the carpenter Cristóbal López. Many changes - often due to earthquake damage - were made down through time resulting in the present-day church in an amazing churrigueresque and roccoco style. Since 1585 it was named a parish church dedicated to Marcellus of Tangier (c.250-298), a Roman centurion martyr-saint.
So much to see here. I wandered around amazed at the glittering gold and opulence. Looking at the baptistery screen I noticed a silhouette. First I thought it might be a map presentation to illustrate the spread of christendom. Looking more closely I realised my mistake. That silhouette (see inset), fittingly for its location, shows the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. And perhaps my first view wasn't as wrong as I thought. I think there's also a kind of map: left bottom Spain, then above that France and Eurasia, on the right of Jesus Africa and far right Madagascar...?
PS Usually silhouettes are black against a light background; this one is golden against dark.
Silhouette or Not. Baptistery, Iglesia San Marcelo, Lima, Peru
In 1551 two Augustinian Friars from Salamanca, Spain arrived on these shores. Soon there were monastic buildings on this site and a first church (1554) was designed by Esteban de Amaya and the carpenter Cristóbal López. Many changes - often due to earthquake damage - were made down through time resulting in the present-day church in an amazing churrigueresque and roccoco style. Since 1585 it was named a parish church dedicated to Marcellus of Tangier (c.250-298), a Roman centurion martyr-saint.
So much to see here. I wandered around amazed at the glittering gold and opulence. Looking at the baptistery screen I noticed a silhouette. First I thought it might be a map presentation to illustrate the spread of christendom. Looking more closely I realised my mistake. That silhouette (see inset), fittingly for its location, shows the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. And perhaps my first view wasn't as wrong as I thought. I think there's also a kind of map: left bottom Spain, then above that France and Eurasia, on the right of Jesus Africa and far right Madagascar...?
PS Usually silhouettes are black against a light background; this one is golden against dark.