Model of the Reduction Candelaria and Census of all Reductions 1767

Reductions were hermetically sealed settlements under the control of the Jesuits which were supposed to protect the indigenous population from the unconstrained exploitation by the Spanish colonialists. The picture shows a schematic view of the reduction Candelaria with plaza, church, official and residential buildings. The census of 1767 gives the number of inhabitants in the reductions Paraná and Uruguay and the total number of over 93,000 individuals.

Model of the Reduction Candelaria and Census of all Reductions, unknown artist, 1767; source: Peramas, Josephi Emmanuelis: De Vita et moribus tredecim virorum paraguaycorum, Faenza 1793, without pagination (between pp. XXVII and 1), © Hochschule Sankt Georgen e.V.