Reliquary of Father Junipero Serra 1941

This watercolor by William Kieckhofel (1855-1995) depicts a reliquary of Father Junipero Serra, a Spanish Franciscan missionary who founded nine missions in California in the 18th century. The artwork, created in 1941, features a detailed illustration of a reliquary, a container for holding sacred relics. The reliquary is ornamented with images and symbols, such as a depiction of the Virgin Mary and child, a cross, and other religious motifs. Kieckhofel's precise rendering of the reliquary is characteristic of his illustrative style, which often depicted historical objects and artifacts.