The polychrome wooden sculptures of the Jesuit reductions in Paracuaria, 1609 -1767 Art Technological investigation with regards to the contribution of German Jesuits

• Applicant: Professor Erwin Emmerling
• Subject Area: Art History
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 265640896

The polychrome wooden sculptures of the Jesuit reductions in Paracuaria, 1609 - 1767 Art Technological investigation including the contribution of German Jesuits The Jesuit state of Paracuaria, which existed from 1609 to the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767 in the area that includes parts of present-day Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, is still controversially discussed in the research. The judgments range from the realization of a utopia, the Christian ideal state, the Christian communism to colonization by other means and direct Jesuit enrichment up to successful development aid. The heritage is indisputably in the artistic view of this clash of two cultures, as they could not be more different: the neolithic living American Indian population, the Guarani Indians, and the European Jesuit missionaries from Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Bohemia and Germany. Visual art served the Jesuits as an important means to Christianity. After the expulsion of the order in 1778, 30 magnificently decorated mission churches, with numerous altars, paintings and polychrome wooden sculptures remained. Since 1984, seven of the mission ruins are World Heritage. Art historically the treatment of this sculpture stock is still at the beginning. Since the sculptures are neither signed nor dated and also the traditional archival only allow write-ups in exceptional cases, the experts are divided over how the various manifestations are classified. Because the exact inventory is not clear today, the data on the distribution, maintenance and technology are not yet registered or not even compiled systematically. A scientific-art technological analysis of these figures did not take place until the present time. Further systematic studies to the carving techniques are lacking and only in exceptional cases the types of wood are determined. The project is an interdisciplinary collaboration of historians, art historians, theologians, anthropologists and ethnologists, scientists, art technologists and restorers and aims to document and examine the sculptures inventory as well as prepare a catalog of the polychrome wood sculptures of the Jesuit reductions, with professional photographic documentation of all sculptures. The works are going to be edited art historically, examined art technologically and comprehensive material provisions are going to be made (types of woods, colorants, binders, subsequent revisions and conservation materials). The interdisciplinary study of the works should provide information on the production, origin, development of styles, the original appearance, functionality and the context of the sculptures. The catalog is going to be published in Spanish and English on the Internet, including all related information.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Argentina
• Co-Investigators: Professorin Dr. Gabriela Siracusano; Dr. Guillermo Wilde