Which New Mexico landmark inspired Georgia O'Keeffe's painting series of its white cross?

The Ranchos de Taos church, formally San Francisco de Asís Mission Church, inspired Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings of a white cross.

O'Keeffe visited northern New Mexico during the 1920s and became fascinated by the shapes of adobe buildings and religious architecture. Her paintings of the church at Ranchos de Taos include compositions focused on its massive exterior walls and a white cross associated with the mission. These works translate a specific building into strongly simplified shapes and tonal contrasts.

The church was constructed between 1772 and 1816 and remains an important example of Spanish Colonial adobe architecture. Its rounded buttresses and earthen walls have made it one of the most recognizable historic structures in New Mexico.

The site is often identified simply as the Ranchos de Taos church, but the formal name is San Francisco de Asís Mission Church. It should not be confused with Taos Pueblo, another major northern New Mexico landmark.