By TR Robertson
The Statue of the Immaculate Conception has returned to Mission San Luis Rey, a historic Spanish Franciscan Mission in Oceanside, after a successful restoration and conservation project at the Balboa Art Conservation Center, funded by the Santa Margarita Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution www.dar.org. The BACC (www.bacc.org) is a non-profit organization that uses donations and sponsorships to fund various restorations of artistic works. Headed by the Historical Preservation Chairperson, Charla Boodry, from the DAR, the committee and chapter raised funds as part of their mission of historical preservation. In a special unveiling of the Statue of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, the statue was displayed in one of the niches just off the aisle of the nave of the Mission San Luis Rey Church, established in 1798, the 18th of 21 missions in California.
The statue was sent to the Balboa Art Conservation Center, in Balboa Park, in June of 2025, and for 10 months and roughly 100 hours of refurbishing, cleaning, restoration, and some minor repairs to the base, statue, and crown, the statue was returned to Mission San Luis Rey. Mission Museum Director Helena Hazelton welcomed those in attendance to the event and introduced Morgan Wylder, Associate Conservator of Paintings for the Balboa Art Conservation Center, who gave a slide show presentation and explanation of the work and process that had been accomplished to bring the goal of “making her look like her best self” to completion. Morgan explained the processes and materials used to clean areas with minor damage and to fill in portions of the wooden statue, particularly the stabilization of the statue’s base. One technique involved estofado, an artistic technique that imitates the appearance of gold brocade, making this 4-foot wooden statue appear golden.
Following this, the group attending was directed to the niche for the unveiling. Father Anthony Garibaldi, a Franciscan friar and the Guardian of the Community at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, led those attending in a dedication and blessing ceremony and unveiling of the statues’ return to the Mission.
The statue has a little history behind it, beginning with the fact that San Diego was named after Saint Didacus (Diego), and that, in 1769, the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola and Franciscan Friar Junipero Serra founded and established the Presidio of San Diego and the Mission of San Diego de Alcala. Franciscan Friar Didacus was known for his humility, charity, and work among the poor, which led to his sainthood. Another saint, a female saint, was venerated above all others in this area, and a statue was commissioned for the Mission of San Diego de Alcala, becoming the principal icon of the presidio and chapel. She became the patroness of the early town of San Diego, the port, and the presidio fort. This was the Statue of Immaculate Conception and is one of San Diego’s oldest and most important historic and cultural artifacts. This 18th-century wood-and-gesso statue, a little over 4 feet tall, is one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial art in the area. The statue was moved to Mission San Luis Rey in 1798 where it had remained ever since.
With help from the Santa Margarita Daughters of American Revolution and the work completed by the Balboa Art Conservation Center, the statue now has returned to the way it looked in 1798 when it was moved to Mission San Luis Rey. Those visiting the Mission and surrounding grounds can now look at one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial art along with other examples on display in the Mission, www.sanluisrey.org.
