Another Leonard Cohen moment in the Museo de las Conceptas...

 

It seems whenever I'm in a church, I think of Leonard Cohen. Saint Leonard maybe? If people like that became statues of contemplation for future generations, they might be posed something like this.  I've decided this is really Saint Joan of Arc looking suspiciously like a rock star.  

The Order of the Immaculate Conception, Cuenca branch, was first housed in the finest mansion in the city in 1559, a gift from a society lady as the dowry for her three daughters so they wouldn't turn out totally irreverent, like me. A convent was eventually completed by 1729 which has housed a community of Nuns ever since.  (My) Joan of Arc, seen here doing something like the 'hound dog', is one of their treasures. (I think she is really Saint Rafael....) The building, collectively known as Las Conceptas, receives Heritage and private funds enabling much needed maintenance and restoration of the wings, one of which - the Infirmary - now forms a very lovely little museum. 

 

 

The public wings give the visitor a glimpse of life behind a convent’s walls and, tantalizingly, the closed old Colonial doors with key holes and cracks demand you steal a quick peek in the name of classically guilty Catholic pleasure.... all too much fun.

  

 

 

The Order’s collection is fantastical and quirky and ranges from the exceptionally humble Decorative objets d’art to the full sized contemplative Religious statues.

 

 

 

I recommend a visit and a revisit!

 

 Fundacion Museo de las Conceptas is located in Calle Hermano Miguel 6-33, between Presidente Cordova and Juan Jaramillo. It's opening hours are; Monday - Friday, 9am-6.30pm and Saturdays and Public Holidays, 10am – 1pm.

 

Comments

[Komodo]

The third picture is not unlike Chris, it could be a representation of his former life as a Hat Ironer.
Or maybe he is Joan's roadie and is preparing her costume for the next Gig.

[Robyn]

Had forgotten my visit to the convents museum until I read this blog, yes, it is worth a repeat visit, especially now I've read Jenny Bluefield's slant on Leonard Cohen and the various objects on display..who would think of combining hound dogs with a closed order of nuns.
This splendid museum is yet another of Cuenca's sadly unpublicised attractions.