Paradise in Stone: Representations of New World Plants and Animals on Spanish Colonial Churches in the Philippines

Eighteenth-century Filipino architects and stonemasons incorporated elaborate stonework depicting New World plants and animals into church façades, reflecting local aesthetics and interest in exotic flora and fauna. This architectural innovation, evident in sites like the baroque church of Miag-ao in Iloilo, serves as a visual celebration of naturalia introduced to the Philippines through commercial exchanges during Spanish colonial rule. The study examines how these representations transcend mere ornamentation, offering insights into cultural innovation and the fusion of local and imported elements in Filipino art.

Reyes, R. A. G. (2018). Paradise in Stone: Representations of New World Plants and Animals on Spanish Colonial Churches in the Philippines. Art, Trade, and Cultural Mediation in Asia, 1600–1950, 43–74. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57237-0_3