Shannon Stirnweis (B. 1931) "Missions of the West" Signed lower right. Original Oil on Illustration Board painting. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting appeared in the Fleetwood Trails West Collection of Fine Art Prints as "Missions of the West" published in 1983. Spain's expansion in the New World was marked by the founding of many new churches in western America. Soldiers and priests had rallied to explore the wastelands and mountain ranges, then subdue, baptize and train the Indians. Docile tribes were gathered into missions ... self-contained communities guided by religious zeal. Not only were these missions a way of life, they were a Spanish formula for ruling an empire that spanned thousands of miles over two continents. By 1630, missions dotted the Southwest. San Diego de Alcala Mission, California's first mission, was founded by Father Junipero Serra on July 16, 1769. With a handful of priests and thousands of Indians he overcame naked hills and stony deserts to turn a wilderness into rich, fertile farmland. Indeed, fifty years later, twenty-one missions stretched from San Diego to north of San Francisco Bay. Spaced about a day's journey apart, they formed links in El Camino Real, commonly known as The King's Highway. The Indian converts of each mission lived communally ... working forty hours a week as farmers, soapmakers, weavers, masons, or herders ... and celebrated 130 holy days a year. Under the direction of the priests, fields were irrigated and golden grain shimmered. Paintings and religious artifacts were collected and libraries grew while the priests taught music and learned dozens of dialects to spread their message. Image Size: 18 x 20.75 in. Overall Size: 19.5 x 22.5 in. Unframed. (B06262)