San José Conventual Church

427

Fuentes de Andalucia-Iglesia Conventual de San José

It was founded by the Mercedarian Fathers in the early 17th century. The Church was later occupied by the Salesian Fathers and finally placed under the custody of the Archdiocese. The portal on the west front was made by Juan Ruiz Florindo. The San José Church boasts an 18th-century high altar by the Ecijan sculptor Martín de Toledo. The titular image, St Joseph holding the Child Jesus’ hand, is by the Sevillian sculptor Juan de Mesa. This was his first work after leaving the school of Martínez Montañés in 1616.

The cedar statue represents the Holy Patriarch in a walking pose, holding the Christ Child’s hand with his right hand while holding his cloak with the left. As Professor Hernandez Diaz points out “Saint Joseph’s face is the likeness of the face of the Christ of Good Death of the Confraternity of the Students, while the Child is reminiscent of the found image in the arms of Saint Christopher in the Salvador Church”. Contrary to some statues that represent this saint as an elderly man, Mesa shows him in the prime of his youth as a strong, young man. He sought to highlight his role as guardian of the Child and protector of Mary.

Labels

Church

Sculpture

Juan de Mesa