Bolivia: Concepcion Mission – Museum of Religious Art

There is a very impressive museum at the Concepcion Mission, preserving and presenting all the original wood-carved religious art as well as many masks. There are tons of original 18th-century religious sculptures carved by Jesuit missionaries and indigenous Chiquitano artisans, many are the finest examples of Baroque-Mestizo art in South America. There are also many restored baroque musical instruments (violins, harps, organs, flutes) that were built in the missions in the 1700s. There are also many paintings, altarpieces, and religious clothing items. Finally, there is a large collection of wooden ceremonial masks – angel and demon faces with bulging eyes and grimaces, all hundreds of years old and original!