Spanish Missions

The renowned Spanish Mission architecture dates back to the 1520's, making these some of the oldest buildings in the New World. In the Sonoran Desert, which includes the area now part of northern Mexico and southern Arizona, mission building commenced by 1687, when a Jesuit missionary named Father Eusebio Kino began founding over twenty missions. Mission Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi, the first church in southern Arizona was founded in 1691. Mission building continued in what is now Pima County throughout the early 1700's.

Gilbert's paintings capture these historic buildings in different lights: the brilliant whitewash in the high day, or the peaceful and moody shadows of approaching evening.