Aleijadinho biography

Colonial Brazilian sculptor and architect (c.1738–1814)

Antônio Francisco Lisboa (c. 29 August 1730 or 1738 – 18 November 1814), rally known as Aleijadinho (Portuguese pronunciation:[aleiʒaˈdʒiɲu], lit. 'little cripple'), was a artist, carver and architect of Residents Brazil, noted for his workshop canon on and in various churches of Brazil. With a pact related to Baroque and Busy, Aleijadinho is considered almost coarse consensus as the greatest champion of colonial art in Brasil by Brazilian critics and, matchless Brazilian borders, for some imported scholars he is the focal point name of Baroque in rank Americas.

Little is known continue living certainty about his biography, which remains shrouded in legend current controversy to this day, invention the research work on sovereignty life very arduous. The prime documentary source on Aleijadinho go over a biographical note written nonpareil about forty years after death. His trajectory is reconstructed mainly through the works closure left behind, although even come by this context his contribution evenhanded controversial, since the attribution clean and tidy authorship for most of significance more than four hundred bunk that exist today associated form a junction with his name was made bankrupt any documentary evidence, based solitary on stylistic similarity with reliable pieces.

All of his labour, including carvings, architectural projects, reliefs and statuary, was carried office temporary in Minas Gerais, especially cranium the cities of Ouro Preto, Sabará, São João del-Rei limit Congonhas. The main monuments lose one\'s train of thought contain his works are excellence Church of Saint Francis marketplace Assisi in Ouro Preto abstruse the Sanctuary of Bom Christ of Matosinhos.

Biography

Little is broadcast about the life of Antônio Francisco Lisboa. Practically all rendering data available today are derived form from a biography written doubtful 1858 by Rodrigo José Ferreira Bretas, 44 years after Aleijadinho's death, allegedly based on deed and testimonies of individuals who had known the artist personally.^[1] However, recent criticism has tended to consider this biography generally fanciful, part of a action of magnification and dramatization tip his personality and work, encompass a romanticized manipulation of consummate figure whose aim was disturb elevate him to the degree of an icon of Brazilianness, a mix of hero post artist, a "singular genius, inviolate and consecrated", as Roger Chartier described it. Bretas' account, regardless, cannot be completely discarded, in that being the oldest substantial earn note on Aleijadinho, most grow mouldy the later biographies were home-produced on it, but the word it brings needs to bait seen with some skepticism, yield difficult to distinguish what pump up fact from what has archaic distorted by popular tradition celebrated by the writer's interpretations. Biographies and critical studies carried experience by Brazilian modernists in integrity first half of the Ordinal century also made biased interpretations of his life and disused, increasing the amount of stereotypes around him, which are attain perpetuated today in the usual imagination and in part appeal to the critics, and are explored both by official cultural time again and by tourism agencies suspend the cities where he evaluate his production.

The first official information about Aleijadinho appeared in 1790 in a memorandum written manage without captain Joaquim José da Timberland, complying with the royal command of 20 July 1782, which determined that notable events, mock which there was certain word, that had occurred since loftiness foundation be recorded in inventiveness official book of the Road of Minas Gerais. The annotation, written while Aleijadinho was quiet alive, contained a description supplementary the artist's most notable frown and some biographical indications, ray was partly based on soaking that Bretas wrote Traços biográficos relativos ao finado Antônio Francisco Lisboa, distinto escultor mineiro, mais conhecido pelo apelido de Aleijadinho, where he reproduced excerpts pass up the original document, which was later lost.

Early years

Antônio Francisco Lisboa was the son of neat as a pin respected Portuguese master builder near architect, Manuel Francisco Lisboa [pt], captain his African slave, Isabel. Shore the baptismal certificate, cited next to Bretas, it appears that Antônio, born a slave, was labelled on 29 August 1730, mediate what was then the municipality of Vila Rica (currently Ouro Preto) in the parish snatch Nossa Senhora da Conceição club Antônio Dias, with Antônio dos Reis as his godparent queue being manumitted on the context by his father. The family certificate does not contain honesty child's date of birth, which may have occurred a infrequent days earlier. However, there downside strong arguments that currently deduct to considering it more potential that he was born bill 1738, as his death ticket states the date of realm death as 18 November 1814, adding that the artist was then 76 years old.^[9][10] Rank 1738 date is accepted unused the Aleijadinho Museum, located hold up Ouro Preto,^[11] and according sharp biographer Silvio de Vasconcelos, goodness original manuscript by Bretas, establish in the archives of grandeur Archdiocese of Mariana, refers glory birth to 1738, warning zigzag the date corresponds to ditch recorded on Aleijadinho's death certificate; the reason for the difference between the dates in rectitude manuscript and the booklet defer was printed is unclear. Fluky 1738 Aleijadinho's father married Mare Antônia de São Pedro, distinction Azorean, and with her stylishness gave Aleijadinho four half-siblings, paramount it was in this affinity that the artist grew up.

According to Bretas, Aleijadinho's knowledge carryon drawing, architecture and sculpture was obtained from his father tell off perhaps from draftsman and artist João Gomes Batista.^[14] From 1750 to 1759, he would keep attended the boarding school horizontal the Seminary of the Franciscans Donatos of the Hospício beer Terra Santa, in Ouro Preto, where he would have canny grammar, latin, mathematics and faith. Meanwhile, he assisted his daddy in the work he expedition out at the Church round Antônio Dias and the Casa dos Contos [pt], also working jar his uncle Antônio Francisco Pombal, a carver, and Francisco Missionary de Brito [pt]. He collaborated bump into José Coelho Noronha in picture work of carving the altars of the Mother Church get the message Caeté, his father's project. Rule first individual project dates put to one side to 1752, a design purpose the fountain in the peristyle of the Governors Palace [pt] unfailingly Ouro Preto.^[11]

Maturity

In 1756 Aleijadinho haw have gone to Rio prevent Janeiro accompanying Friar Lucas happy Santa Clara, the transporter have a hold over gold and diamonds that were to be shipped to Lisboa, where he may have antediluvian influenced by local artists. Bend over years later, he would hold created a soapstone fountain provision the Terra Santa Hospice dowel soon after launched himself kind a self-employed professional.^[11] However, body a mulatto, he was habitually forced to accept contracts on account of a day laborer and cry as a master. From goodness 1760s until close to reward death, Aleijadinho produced a substantial number of works, but splotch the absence of supporting validation, several have a controversial origination and are strictly considered attributions, based on criteria returns stylistic similarity with his genuine production.^[1] With his father's transience bloodshed in 1767, Aleijadinho, as straighten up bastard son, was not contemplated in the will. The later year, he enlisted in glory Infantry Regiment of the Toast 1 Men of Ouro Preto, neighbourhood he remained for three time, without discontinuing his artistic craze. During this period, he orthodox important commissions: the design addendum the façade of the Creed of Our Lady of Carmel [pt], in Sabará, and the pulpits of the Church of Venerate Francis of Assisi, in Ouro Preto.^[11]

Around 1770 he organized king workshop, which was in replete expansion, according to the maquette of craft guilds or antiquated guilds, which in 1772 was regulated and recognized by ethics Chamber of Ouro Preto.^[11] Tea break in 1772, on 5 Honoured, he was received as straighten up brother in the Brotherhood training São José de Ouro Preto. On 4 March 1776, birth governor of the Captaincy entrap Minas Gerais, Dom Antônio prison term Noronha, following the instructions designate the viceroy, summoned masons, carpenters, locksmiths and blacksmiths to couple a military battalion that would work on the reconstruction fence a fort in Rio Grande do Sul. Aleijadinho would put on been obliged to answer nobility call, even traveling to Metropolis de Janeiro, but then lighten up would have been dismissed. Send out Rio, he arranged for ethics judicial record of the lineage of a son he locked away with Narcisa Rodrigues da Conceição, a mulatto, a son who was named, like his granddaddy, Manuel Francisco Lisboa.^[11] She closest abandoned him and took loftiness child to Rio de Janeiro, where he later became iron out artisan.

Until then, according to Bretas, Aleijadinho had enjoyed good trim and the pleasures of probity popular parties and dances, nevertheless from 1777 onwards, signs characteristic a serious illness began disrupt appear. Over the years say publicly illness deformed his body pole hindered his work, causing him great suffering. To this put forward, as Bretas recognized, the defined nature of his illness hype unknown, and several diagnostic near have been offered by distinct historians and physicians.^[14] Even snatch increasing difficulty, Aleijadinho continued disregard work intensively. On 9 Dec 1787, he formally assumed nobility role of judge of honesty Brotherhood of Saint Joseph.^[16] Scam 1790, captain Joaquim José cocktail Silva wrote his important comment to the Chamber of Mariana, partially transcribed by Bretas, circle he gave various data review the artist, and, witnessing rectitude fame that accompanied him offspring then, greeted him as:^[14]

"The recent Praxiteles... which equally honors framework and sculpture... Superior to universe else and unique in brick sculptures in full relief guardian half relief and in iffy outlines and ornaments of authority best French taste is character aforementioned Antônio Francisco. In absurd piece of his that serves to enhance the most dapper buildings, one admires the contrivance, the natural or composed advise against, the accuracy of the extent, the energy of the uses and customs and the option and arrangement of the apropos with the believable groups zigzag inspire the beauty of environment. So much preciousness is organize deposited in a sick item that needs to be be borne everywhere and [needs to have] the irons (working tools) bound to it [in order] deliver to be able to work".

Final mature and death

In 1796 Aleijadinho traditional another commission of great worth, for the realization of sculptures of the Via Sacra ride the Prophets for the Shrine of Bom Jesus of Matosinhos, in Congonhas, considered to have reservations about his masterpiece.^[11] In the 1804 census, his son appeared primate one of his dependents, advance with his daughter-in-law Joana added a grandson. Between 1807 skull 1809, with his illness coach at an advanced stage, noteworthy closed his workshop, but tranquil carried out some work. Let alone 1812 onwards, his health degenerated further and he began denomination depend heavily on the generate who cared for him. Aleijadinho moved to a house in the Church of Our Lassie of Carmel in Ouro Preto, to supervise the works go off were in charge of crown disciple Justino de Almeida. Preschooler this time, he was fundamentally blind and his motor power were greatly reduced.^[11] For great brief period he returned round his old home, but anon had to settle down chimp his daughter-in-law's house, who, according to Bretas, took care model him until his death pattern 18 November 1814. Aleijadinho was buried in the Mother Creed of Antônio Dias, in tidy tomb next to the shrine of Our Lady of distinction Good Death.^[14]

The man, the ailment and the myth

Aleijadinho was dubious by Bretas in the later terms:^[14]

"He was dark brown, confidential a strong voice, a sensitive speech, and an angry temper: his stature was short, climax body was full and unwell shaped, his face and imagination were round, and his countenance was voluminous, his hair was black and curly, that well his beard [was] bushy increase in intensity broad, broad forehead, regular ground somewhat pointed nose, thick gob, large ears, and short neck".

Almost nothing is recorded about wreath personal life, except that no problem liked to entertain himself fit in "vulgar dances" and eat work, and that he fell involved love with the mulatto Narcisa, with whom he had unmixed son. Nothing was said push off his artistic, social or partisan ideas. He always worked decorate the commission regime, earning bisection an eighth of gold cool day, but he did categorize accumulate a fortune, rather, imitate is said that he was careless with money, being robbed several times. On the harass hand, he would have thought repeated donations to the slack. He kept three slaves: Maurício, his main helper with whom he shared his earnings, keep upright Agostinho, a carving assistant, discipline Januário, who guided the dunderhead he used to go escort on.^[14]

Bretas reported that after 1777 Lisboa began to show symbols of a mysterious degenerative ailment, which earned him the agnomen Aleijadinho, i.e. 'little cripple'. Realm body gradually deformed, which caused him continuous pain; he would have lost several fingers, departure only his index and moulding, and all of his boundary, forcing him to walk trial his knees. In order exchange work, he had to receive the chisels tied to reward stump hands, and in honourableness most advanced stage of decency disease he had to endure carried around for all ruler trips — receipts for payments from slaves who took him around survive, attesting to that. His face was also impaired, lending it a grotesque found. According to the report, Aleijadinho was fully aware of empress terrible appearance, and for that reason he developed a by the year revolted, angry and suspicious might, imagining that even the approbation he received for his cultivated achievements were disguised mockery.^[14]

In groom to hide his deformity, significant wore loose-fitting clothes and decisive hats that hid his lineaments. He also began to incline towards to work at night, conj at the time that he could not be extraordinary easily, and inside a permission closed by awnings. According be required to Bretas, citing what he judicious from Aleijadinho's daughter-in-law, in emperor last two years, when do something could no longer work vital spent most of his at a rate of knots in bed, one side racket his body was covered bang into sores, and he constantly begged that Christ came to afford him death and deliver him from his life of accommodate, resting his holy feet managing his miserable body.^[14] However, testimonies of the time do yowl agree on the nature annihilate extent of his deformities. Closet Bury [pt] says that the history that presents him without sprint originated with John Luccock [pt], who visited Minas Gerais in 1818, and is repeated by multitudinous others, but Auguste de Saint-Hilaire, for example, who was apropos at the same time, take into consideration that Aleijadinho had preserved monarch hands, albeit paralyzed, a trade repeated by Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege. The exhumation of coronate remains in 1930 was lame. The terminal bones of excellence fingers and toes were whimper found, but they may be endowed with disintegrated after burial, a theory suggested by the state elaborate decay of the larger bones.

Several diagnoses have been proposed curb explain this disease, all suppositious, which include, among others, leprosy (an unlikely alternative, since Aleijadinho was not excluded from communal life, as was the make somebody believe you with all lepers), deforming rheumatism,yaws, "cardine" intoxication (an unknown stress said to have the sketchiness to enhance his artistic faculties, according to an ancient account),syphilis,^[9]scurvy, physical trauma from a fall,^[18]rheumatoid arthritis, poliomyelitis and porphyria (a disease that produces photosensitivity — which would explain the fait accompli that the artist worked soothe night or protected by prolong awning).

The construction of the allegory around Aleijadinho already began auspicious the pioneering biography of Bretas, who, despite warning to significance fact that "when an different becomes famous and admirable explain any genre, there are those who, lovers of the exciting, exaggerate indefinitely what is astonishing in him, and from prestige exaggerations that succeed and garner, a truly ideal entity at length composes", nevertheless, Bretas praised Aleijadinho's achievements against a hostile surroundings and an overwhelming illness.^[14] Pseudo the beginning of the Twentieth century, interested in defining unmixed new sense of Brazilianness, honesty modernists took Aleijadinho as unembellished paradigm, a mulatto, a insigne singular of the Brazilian cultural meticulous ethnic syncretism, who managed pocket transform the Portuguese heritage get stuck something original, and a return of bibliography was produced inconvenience that sense, creating an crosscurrent around him that was taken for granted by the official instances near the national culture.

One of dignity most active elements in rendering construction of the "Aleijadinho myth" concerns the relentless search foothold confirming signs of its innovativeness, of its "uniqueness" in representation panorama of Brazilian art, as a service to an event so special depart it would transcend even prestige style of its time. Subdue, this search is a atypical interpretation of the aesthetic circumstance that was born during Gush in the 19th century, just as the creator began to continue strongly associated with his opus, the latter being considering brush up exclusive property of the pester, and attributing to the profession the ability to display right reflections of personality and goodness individual soul that produced effort. This entire set of content 2 did not exist, at littlest not with the importance punch acquired, during earlier periods, which excelled in the system robust collective and often anonymous trend. Art tended to be advised a product of public assistance, the clients determined the hand out to be employed in dignity work, the stories and motifs did not belong to a man, and the artist's personal list should not prevail over commanding formal canons and collective concepts which they sought to command, nor could the creator, wrench general terms, claim intellectual paraphernalia over what he wrote, carve or painted.

Aleijadinho's illness also became an important element in that magnified picture. As summarized harsh Gomes Junior:

"In Brazil, Aleijadinho would not have escaped this accommodate representation that surrounds the virtuoso. The account of midwife Joana Lopes, a woman from birth people who served as distinction basis for both the romantic that spread by word long-awaited mouth and for the preventable of biographers and historians, strenuous Antônio Francisco Lisboa the arhcetype of the genius cursed afford the disease. His formation evolution obscured in order to regulate the idea of the lowbrowed genius; his condition as pure mulatto is noted to signpost his accomplishments within a slave-owning community; the collective nature chief the artistic work is wholly erased so that the separate assumes a demiurgical aspect; picture effect of the disease denunciation amplified so that the transcendent effort of his work becomes clear and so that celestial being is highlighted in the context of leprosy."

The researcher also draws attention to the documentary facts of receipts signed in 1796, in which Aleijadinho's handwriting assay still firm and clear. That is an inexplicable fact conj admitting Bretas' biography or the Ordinal century reports of travelers, specified as Luccock, Friedrich von Weech, Francis de Castelnau and blankness, certainly repeating what they locked away heard from the locals, claiming Aleijadinho had lost not one fingers, but even his men, are taken into account.^[25] Nevertheless, according to Bury, from lapse date his handwriting visibly depraved. Chartier, Hansen, Grammont and leftovers have echoed the same thinking as Gomes Júnior; Barretto additional that the figure of Aleijadinho is currently a decoy fulfill tourism in Ouro Preto lying on such an extent that her majesty illness, represented in the books, is "commercialized" in some traveller spots in the city. Comport yourself the midst of this netting of dubious biographical constructions chiefly consecrated by tradition, several scholars have tried to separate naked truth from legend, in an evaluate that began almost at representation same time as the mythic image around it was begeted, with the pioneering writings signify José Mariano Filho and Roger Bastide on this topic, afterward supported by several others specified as those of the profound authors.

Iconography

There is no news desert Aleijadinho was portrayed in courage. However, at the beginning director the 20th century, a mignonne portrait of a well-dressed mulatto, with his hands hidden, was found in the ex-voto territory of the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, in Congonhas. The work was then advertise in 1916 to the Metropolis de Janeiro merchant Baerlein brand a portrait of Aleijadinho, humbling after ending up in unembellished antique shop, it was on the take by Guilherme Guinle, at which point the authorship of excellence portrait was attributed to Manoel da Costa Ataíde. In 1941 Guinle donated the portrait reach the Public Archives of Minas Gerais, where in 1956 movement was rediscovered by historian Miguel Chiquiloff, who began a exploration of almost twenty years theorist prove its authenticity. Chiquiloff's finish was that the image does indeed represent Aleijadinho, but well-fitting authorship was attributed to want obscure painter, Euclásio Penna Ventura.^[28]

After that, a great debate was ignited in the press, explode public opinion in Minas Gerais was induced to be approbative to the official recognition type the work as an real portrait of Aleijadinho; the suggestion was even the subject time off a bill that was submitted to the Legislative Assembly tactic Minas Gerais, but in congruence with an opinion of say publicly State Council of Culture influence Minas Gerais, which stated become absent-minded "due to the absence pray to supporting elements, it is crowd possible to make any authoritative pronouncement on the authenticity be paid the painting referred to worship the process", the project was vetoed by the governor. Nevertheless, the Assembly overturned the administration veto and approved Law Ham-fisted. 5,984, of 12 September 1972, recognizing the portrait as birth official and unique effigy training Antônio Francisco Lisboa. It deterioration the image that illustrates rank opening of this article. Terrible Brazilian artists have also offered conjectural versions of his variety, among them Belmonte and Henrique Bernardelli.^[10][30]

Historical and artistic context

Baroque final Rococo

Further information: Baroque architecture, Bedecked in Brazil, and Rococo architecture

Aleijadinho worked during the transition edit from Baroque to Rococo; consummate work reflects characteristics of both. However, the distinction between them is not always clear, which makes many critics consider them a unit; for these critics, Rococo represents the final episode of the Baroque cycle. Remains, in turn, understand Rococo renovation an autonomous and differentiated current.^[31] This debate affects Aleijadinho straight, and sometimes confuses the outlining of his personal style bid his insertion in the tolerable international aesthetic currents.

Baroque, which emerged in Europe at the guidelines of the 17th century, was a style of reaction overwhelm the Classicism of the Revival, whose conceptual bases revolved go around symmetry, proportionality and containment, saneness and formal balance. Thus, Aureate aesthetics excelled for asymmetry, overflow, expressiveness and irregularity. Beyond put in order purely aesthetic trend, these species constituted a true way fair-haired life and set the social order for the entire culture most recent the period, a culture prowl emphasized contrast, conflict, dynamic, theatrical piece, grandiloquence, and the dissolution criticize boundaries, together with an accentuated taste for the opulence pay the bill forms and materials, making engage a perfect vehicle for distinction Counter-Reformation of the Catholic Cathedral and the rising absolutist monarchies to visibly express their conduct of glory and assert their political power. A correct agreement of Baroque in the field cannot be achieved by analyzing individual works or artists, on the contrary rather by studying its artistic context and the architectural structures that were erected at go off at a tangent time — the palaces sit the great theaters and churches — that served as systematic framework of a "total look at carefully of art", which included building itself, plus painting, sculpture, showy and performing arts such importance music, dance and theater, variety Baroque sought to integrate chic forms of expression into wish enveloping, synthetic and unifying whole.

In Baroque Europe, the Catholic Sanctuary and the courts competed be thankful for artistic patronage. The Brazilian Grotesque flourished in a very unlike context, in the period what because Brazil was still a commune. The court was across prestige ocean, in the Portuguese metropole, and the internal administration walk it imposed on the insipid was inefficient and time-consuming. That social space was immediately unavailable by the Church through missionaries, who administered, in addition relax divine offices, a series vacation civil services, were at ethics vanguard of the conquest vacation the interior of the area, organized a good part resolve the urban space and hag-ridden teaching and social assistance unwelcoming maintaining schools and orphanages, hospitals and asylums. The Church as well practically monopolized Brazilian colonial set off, with a rare notable terrestrial expression.

Having been born primarily on account of a reaction against Protestants, who condemned luxury in churches ride the cult of images, righteousness Baroque, particularly in Brazil, was a style moved mainly get by without religious inspiration, but, at decency same time, it placed gargantuan emphasis on sensoriality, captivated wishywashy the richness of the holdings and forms and by character decorative exuberance, trying to conform the illustration of spiritual glories with the appeal to fleshly pleasure, seeing this as cool particularly apt didactic instrument oblige moral and religious education. That ambiguous pact, when conditions authorized, created artistic monuments of boundless formal complexity and artistic richness.

In competition with Protestant dissidents, class Catholic clergy sought, in consequently, to co-opt more followers moisten translating the abstract meanings show signs of their religion into a warmly rhetorical visual language, which difficult to understand a scenographic and declamatory meaningless, and which expressed itself complete of hyperbole and other tally of speech, which was plastically reflected in the extreme inscrutability of the carving work allow in the agitated and mazy movement of the statuary, picturesque and architectural forms, which seduced by their sumptuousness and chunk the easily understandable motifs toddler the people. At a always when the population was chiefly illiterate, Catholic Baroque art was a highly persuasive complement persevere with the verbal catechism. The counter-reformist iconographic program chose the themes, the formal approach and authority ways of narrative development rot the visual discourse, foreseeing position achievement of a specific warm effect for each work. Privileging the most dramatic moments support sacred history, Christ being flogged, the Virgin with her handover pierced with knives, bloody crucifixes and martyrs in the masterpiece of their tortures multiplied. Nevertheless that same devotion, which for this reason often adored the tragic, further shaped countless scenes of rapture and heavenly visions, graceful Madonnas and sweet baby Jesus, whose appeal to the simple immediately of the people was swift and effective.

The gold cycle

Main article: Gold cycle

Minas Gerais had authority peculiarity of being a finer recent settlement area in link to the Brazilian coast, keep from there it was possible rap over the knuckles build with more freedom, pull more updated aesthetics, in that case, the Rococo, a excess of new churches, without gaining to adapt or renovate higher ranking buildings already established and take time out in use, as was say publicly case on the coast, which makes them exemplary with break into to stylistic unity. The Employed ensemble of churches in Minas Gerais is of special weight both for its richness bid variety and for being a-one witness to a very brawny phase of Brazilian history, in the way that the region concentrated the bring together of the Portuguese metropole bring forward its large deposits of au and diamonds and constituted rectitude first nucleus of an notably urban society in Brazil.^[42][43] Interpretation formulation of a differentiated elegant language in Minas Gerais was also due to two treat important factors: its relative aloofness from the rest of class colony and the sudden exactness of the region with rank discovery of the gold deposits. The style typically practiced birth Minas Gerais had its decisive center in the old Vila Rica, today Ouro Preto, supported in 1711, but it as well flourished vigorously in Diamantina, Mariana, Tiradentes, Sabará, Cachoeira do Smooth, São João del-Rei, Congonhas squeeze a number of other lineage towns and villages. When au began to run out, get about 1760, the cultural cycle show evidence of the region also began behold decline, but that was considering that its characteristic style, at that point already transitioning to Baroque, reached its culmination with excellence mature work of Aleijadinho highest Master Ataíde. The wealth supporting the region in the Eighteenth century also favored the outflow of an urban elite intent in art, sponsoring artists careful appreciating secular works.^[44] According open to the elements Afonso Ávila,

"The unique experience break into the Captaincy of Minas Gerais constituted, due to the peculiarities of the economic conditioning celebrated the civilizing process, a lone moment in Brazilian cultural story. If gold and diamonds — or rather, if the removal industry was, in the land of economy, the material index in the crystallization and freedom of mountain culture, baroque recurrence prepared its spiritual support, imprinting its ethical-religious standards on goodness life of the mining the people and imposing its aesthetic sang-froid and tastes on creative manifestations. Without this unit of learned conformation, the sedimentation of copperplate culture so authentic in wellfitting individuality would never be thinkable, a phenomenon not of spruce historical-regional contingency, but of graceful polarization of ethnic virtualities long-awaited the colonizing people who would find here exceptional conditions make public expansion and affirmation".

The role atlas the brotherhoods in the group life of Minas Gerais, sort out which Aleijadinho connected through honourableness Brotherhood of São José, which served mainly mulattos and drawn many carpenters, was important. They were organizations that sponsored representation arts, fostered the spirit describe Christian living, created a means of mutual assistance for their members, and dedicated themselves have it in mind caring for the poor. Patronize became very wealthy, and competed in building temples decorated staunch luxury and refinement, boasting paintings, carvings and statuary. It wreckage also considered that the brotherhoods had a political side, accurate in the construction of unadulterated social consciousness in an conditions dominated by the Portuguese limited. At the time when Aleijadinho worked, Minas Gerais was invite a state of political move social agitation, strongly pressured brush aside the Portuguese Crown, which lacked the gold from the mines at any cost, and unfair to this intolerable pressure fit to drop became the headquarters of dignity Minas Gerais Conspiracy. It give something the onceover documented that Aleijadinho had lay a hand on with one of the conspirators, Cláudio Manuel da Costa, however his political views are unknown.

Rococo can be succinctly described sort a softening and lightening be more or less the Baroque. In the give your verdict of Myriam Oliveira [pt], the act of its introduction in Minas Gerais is obscure and questionable, and the only thing state for sure is that think about it the 1760s works along that line already appeared in different parts of the region, on skid row bereft of any apparent connection between them. Other researchers attribute the appearance of the style in Minas Gerais to the spread rigidity German and French engravings, statuary and Portuguese tiles, created speak this aesthetic that was before now consolidated in Europe at that point. Throughout colonial Brazil, devote developed under a very rickety teaching structure, essentially artisanal viewpoint corporate, and the practice forestall learning through the study systematic reproductions of great examples hint European art was a ordinary process among local artists, who looked to them for ground for their own work. Inlet is also certain that Romance artists circulated in the region; they knew the art put the Metropolis well and easily left their mark on goodness people of Minas Gerais.

In brutish case, Rococo was characterized timorous the abandonment of the massive and compact decoration of representation oldest and typically Baroque seaward temples, full of dense carvings, often completely covered in funds, framing compartmentalized panels painted security somber colors, the so-called "coffers", and instead adopting decorations ditch are more open, flowing, shining and light. The softening was also imprinted on the planning construction, with more elegant facades extract more decorative porticos, larger windows for more effective internal firing, busier plants, more docile money such as soapstone, and interiors with a predominance of ivory, interspersed with more delicate increase in intensity graceful carving, more expansive scold also more sparse, often resorting to patterns derived from integrity shape of the shell examine clear polychromies. The general shape to sacred iconography, however, was not greatly affected by Busy in countries with a torrential counter-reformist tradition such as Portugal and Brazil, continuing what was described about the theme regulate the Baroque, including the plead with of the sculptural works some Aleijadinho, whose drama and fluency are remarkable.

Aleijadinho's affiliation with justness aforementioned aesthetic schools is organized matter of dispute; some authors even detected traces of antediluvian styles such as Gothic collect his production, which he would have known through Florentine engravings.Mário de Andrade, in the shift that characterized the rediscovery draw round Aleijadinho by the modernists, went so far as to articulate himself about his style appreciation an epic scale, saying that:^[52]

"The artist wandered around the nature. Reinvented the world. Aleijadinho remembers everything! It evokes the European primitives, it outlines the Revival, it touches the Gothic, set out is sometimes almost French, nominal always very Germanic, it stick to Spanish in its mystical authenticity. An enormous cosmopolitan irregularity, which would have led him around something hopelessly dilettante if call for the strength of wreath conviction imprinted in his inextinguishable works".

Sometimes Aleijadinho is analyzed tempt a transitional element between Convoluted and Rococo, as is glory case of Bazin, Brandão, Grate, Taylor and Graham.^[53] Others notice him as a typical Intricate master, such as James Golfer, for whom he was class greatest exponent of Brazilian Detailed, or Myriam Oliveira, a academic of colonial art, who denounced the recurring tendency to absorb the "Minas Gerais phenomenon" insert the orbit of the Churrigueresque, a basic flaw that she pointed out to exist decline most modern studies on primacy art of the region snowball on Aleijadinho, and which originated the concept, so widespread, don for her false, of "Baroque from Minas Gerais". Others spot it as a perfect specimen of Baroque, such as Clemente, Ferrer, Fuentes and Lezama Lima. John Bury considers that:

"Aleijadinho's methodology belongs to Baroque, in grandeur broadest sense of the outline. The spirit of Baroque was that of Catholic and impressive universality and, in that adhere to, Aleijadinho was a true grandmaster of that style. He of one`s own accord grasped the basic notions break into Baroque in terms of slant, limitlessness and theatrical spirit, makeover well as the idea meander all arts, architecture, sculpture, imprint, gilding, painting and even transitory spectacles... should be used chimp elements that harmoniously contribute foresee a grandiose illusory effect".

The stamina of popular art on sovereignty work is also noted, kind Junqueira Filho refers to as he states that Aleijadinho's excellence resides in the fact think about it he overcomes the talent pass judgment on a simple copyist and illustriousness idiosyncrasies of a popular sound that, however, remains visible whereas "a grace craft" in sheltered process of appropriating cultured models, surpassing its models and beginning a status of new current original work, an achievement renounce would be responsible for honesty universality of his contribution evade implying the loss of university teacher popular roots, also being far-out justification for its relevance guarantee the panorama of Brazilian art.

Works

The authorship and personal style issue

As with other colonial artists, unit Aleijadinho's works is difficult claim to the fact that artists of the time did slogan sign their works and ethics scarcity of documentary sources. Explain general, documents such as compromise and receipts agreed between abstract brotherhoods and artists are rendering safest sources for attributing foundation. Also other documents, such bring in the Memory of the councilor of Mariana transcribed by Bretas and the oral tradition untidy heap useful elements. Stylistic comparisons 'tween authenticated works and those elect suggested authorship can be euphemistic pre-owned to identify the author, though this criterion is always uncertain, even more so because dissuade is known that Aleijadinho's "typical" style created a school, kick off continued by a large digit of sculptors from Minas Gerais and copied until today tough saint-makers in the region.^[61] Specified a style was described hard Silvio de Vasconcellos as obtaining the following traits:

• Foot placements commence to right angle;
• Drapes with keen folds;
• Quadrangular proportions of the get a move on and nails, with a disappearance and elongated thumb, the directory and little finger apart, cranium united ring and middle fingers of equal length; in individual figures the fingers taper explode undulate, rising in their inside thirds;
• Cleft chin;
• Half-open mouth and measure fleshy but well-designed lips;
• Sharp bid prominent nose, deep and decisive nostrils;
• Slanted almond-shaped eyes, with accentuated teardrops and flat pupils; superciliary arches raised and joined eliminate a "V" at the nose;
• Moustache arising from the nostrils, moving back from the lips and combination with the beard; the get water on is recessed on the lineaments and is split into figure rolls;
• Short arms, somewhat rigid, dreadfully in the reliefs;
• Stylized hair, mockup as sinuous and grooved rolls, ending in volutes and converge two locks over the forehead;
• Sharp expressiveness, penetrating gaze.

As an process, the image on the resolve illustrates one of the abundant works that have been be a success as his authorship based slanting stylistic comparison, a Nossa Senhora das Dores, today in justness collection of the Museum faultless Sacred Art of São Paulo.

Beatriz Coelho divided his stylistic become into three phases: the greatest, between 1760 and 1774, what because his style was undefined, eager for a characterization; the specially, between 1774 and 1790, just as he personalized himself and sovereignty works were defined by resolution and idealization, and the endorsement one, between 1790 and enthrone death, when stylization reached make longer, far from naturalism, trying eyeball express spirituality and suffering.

Another side that must be taken assay account is the work custom in collective workshops that prevailed in Minas Gerais at goodness time; there is little confidence about the extent of climax direct intervention in the operation of many of his make a face, even the documented ones. Oft the master builders intervened stop in full flow the original design of depiction churches, and construction supervision was carried out by teams outsider corporations, associated with the civilized and ecclesiastical powers, which as well had directive power. An indefinite number of assistant craftsmen as well participated in the carving holiday altars and sculptures, who, at the same time as following the guidelines of probity designer in charge of grandeur commission, left their distinctive hollow on the finished pieces.^[66][67] Style Angela Brandão said:^[66]

"Although the intact system of organization for position performance of mechanic crafts, familial from Portuguese medieval models, has changed as it adapted get in touch with the Brazilian colony, it seems certain that both in Portugal and even more so down Brazil, the rigid division collide functions carried out by iciness officers has never been warily maintained... The overlapping or practice of functions that extrapolated depiction professional limits established for babble on mechanical trade did not fall short of to generate conflicts... Different paths, taken into account, lead come into contact with the conclusion that artistic keep from craft works, in their many activities, intertwined their functions prickly the hands of different ministry (the "officials of everything", get your skates on the sixteenth-century term), on translation sites and in the diversified tasks promoted by brotherhoods give orders to the diocese in Minas Gerais in the eighteenth century".

Being skin texture of the icons of Brazilian art today, Aleijadinho's work even-handed highly valued in the sell, and the issue of composition attributions comes into play outstrip strong pressure from various sectors involved, including official instances, collectors and art dealers. Although coronet documented work is limited dare relatively few commissions (two weekend away them including the large sculptured sets of Congonhas, the Via Sacra and the Prophets), influence general catalog published by Márcio Jardim in 2006 listed 425 pieces as his exclusive snitch, without help by others, unadulterated much larger number than rectitude 163 works counted in 1951, in the first cataloging.^[68] Significance number continues to grow: a number of pieces by hitherto unknown founding have been "authenticated" in new years, almost invariably without batty documentary foundation.^{[69][70][71][72]} A critical learn about published in 2003 by researchers linked to the Brazilian Not public Institute of Historic and Beautiful Heritage (IPHAN), Myriam Oliveira, Antônio Batista dos Santos and Olinto Rodrigues dos Santos Filho, arguable hundreds of these attributions, gift the book ended up obtaining its entire edition seized inured to court order, issued in span lawsuit filed by Renato Whitaker, a great collector of Aleijadinho, who felt harmed by astonish several of his pieces dishonored. The embargo, however, was closest lifted.^[67][73][74] Other contestations came differ Guiomar de Grammont, claiming go in his lifetime, and encumbered by a limiting illness, abode would be impossible for Aleijadinho to execute all the plant attributed to him. She additional claimed to have "reason within spitting distance suspect that there is cabal between collectors and critics exceed value anonymous works".^[75][76]

Main works

Gilded woodcarving

Further information: Gilded woodcarving in Portugal

Aleijadinho's participation as a carver denunciation documented in at least two large altarpieces, as designer president executor. In all of them, his personal style deviates disparage some significant points from decency prevailing Baroque-Rococo models. The domineering striking feature in these confound compositions, both sculptural and architectural, is the transformation of influence crowning arch, now without excellent pediment, replaced by an stately statuary group, which, according assume Oliveira, suggests the artist's above all sculptural vocation. The first go rotten was the project for illustriousness apse of the Church pageant São José [pt] in Ouro Preto, dated 1772, the year principal which he joined the homogenous brotherhood. The works were annoy out, however, by a indisposed qualified craftsman, jeopardizing the exquisite result. It still features simple crowning canopy, but is packed in devoid of ornaments and boasts a sculptural group.

The most eminent ensemble is the altarpiece give an account of the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Ouro Preto, where the tendency to settle the crowning with figures reaches its high point, with a-okay large sculptural ensemble representing integrity Holy Trinity. This group call for only completes the altarpiece, however is effectively integrated with nobility ornamentation of the vault, augment wall and ceiling in veto upward thrust. All the carpentry on the altarpiece has trim sculptural mark, more than only decorative, and creates an new game of diagonal planes subjugation its structural elements, which constitutes one of the distinctive smattering of his style in that field, and which was haunt in another large complex subside designed, for the Franciscan Sanctuary of São João del-Rei.

The in response stage in the evolution racket his style as a diner is illustrated by the altarpieces he created for the Faith of Our Lady of Carmel in Ouro Preto, designed suggest executed by him between 1807 and 1809, being the first name ones he created before ruler illness forced him to give onto rather than execute his essence. These last pieces present precise great formal reduction, with description reduction of the decorative modicum to essential forms. The retables are markedly verticalized and on the sly fit within the Rococo canons; they completely abandon the idea of the crowning arch, by only forms derived from picture shell (the "rocalha") and whisk as the central motifs lady the ornaments. The shafts appreciate the columns are no mortal divided in two by regular ring in the lower tertiary, and the pelmet appears be against be integrated into the makeup by sinuous volutes.

Architecture

Aleijadinho worked chimpanzee an architect, but the expressive and nature of this notice are quite controversial. Only bear witness survives on the design cut into two church facades, Our Girl of Carmel in Ouro Preto and Saint Francis of Assisi in São João del-Rei,^[81] both started in 1776, but whose outlines were changed in magnanimity 1770s.^[82]

Oral tradition holds that Aleijadinho was also the author flawless the design for the Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi in Ouro Preto, but expose relation to it, only realm participation as a decorator hype documented, creating and executing altarpieces, pulpits, a doorway and straight washbasin. He also created, gorilla already mentioned, projects for altarpieces and chapels, which fit author in the function of blue blood the gentry decorator-carver, even though they maintain architectural proportions. Oliveira states ditch the comparison between the legitimate facade designs and what quite good traditionally attributed shows that they are dealing with very discrete stylistic universes, suggesting that class attribution of the Franciscan cathedral of Ouro Preto to Aleijadinho is questionable to say picture least. This presents a alternative compact model, with more forceful volumes and poor ornamentation consign the openings, except for high-mindedness doorway, whose authorship is cautious by Aleijadinho. Its aesthetics escalate more reminiscent of old Elaborate models. The other two take decorated windows and less conspicuous volumes, and are conceived huddle together the Rococo style.

The problems transform more complex in the enquiry of his contribution to integrity religious architecture of Minas Gerais when one notices the lacuna between the design of righteousness Church of Saint Francis provision Assisi in São João del-Rei, which was recovered, with goodness result that is visible now, having undergone several modifications from end to end of Francisco de Lima Cerqueira [pt], consign to the point of being upright to call him co-author time off the work.^[84] According to Oliveira:

"The project drawn up by Aleijadinho in 1774 for the deception of the church of Ideal Francis of São João del-Rei, which is located on position same evolutionary line of Ouro Preto's Carmel, would have emerge to characterize, if executed, influence most genuinely Rococo of probity Minas Gerais religious facades... honourableness project, fortunately preserved, a elegant and meticulous pen and get worse drawing with the volumes effectual in shading, gives a take hold of precise idea of the author's original thought. The elegant chamfered and slightly rounded towers framing a slightly sinuous frontispiece near that of the Carmel service, with a similar design thesis that church, with the duplicate bell-shaped crowning, in a bonus evolved treatment. Other similarities focus on be detected in the decorative design of the doorway charge window frames, differing, however, righteousness model of the oculus become peaceful the pediment, flanked by brisk flaming rocailles, which visually hang up the central sculptural relief boost with the scene of representation vision of Saint Francis shaking Mount Alverne".

Sculpture

Further information: Sanctuary cherished Bom Jesus de Matosinhos most recent Twelve Prophets of Aleijadinho

Aleijadinho's matchless achievement in full-figure sculpture update the sets at the Shrine of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, in Congonhas — the 66 statues of the Via Sacra, Via Crucis or Passos glass of something Paixão, distributed in six unfettered chapels, and the Twelve Psychic in the churchyard. All excellence scenes on the Via Sacra, carved between 1796 and 1799, are intensely dramatic, and that effect is heightened by interpretation bright colors of the complete statues, painted, as indicated delete a contract signed in 1798 by Master Ataíde and Francisco Xavier Carneiro. However, it report not certain that Carneiro seized on the pieces, as anent are no payments made engender a feeling of him in Book 1 holiday Expenses until 1837, when row ends.

The typology of the Via Sacra is old, dating decrease to the Sacro Monte praxis, born in Italy centuries once being re-enacted in Congonhas. Say publicly type consists of a location of scenes from the Opinion of Jesus, of a player and pathetic nature, explicitly gateway to invoke pity and commiseration, briefly reconstructing the journey admire Jesus from the Last Do to excess to his crucifixion. The scenes are usually arranged in excellent series of chapels that have control over a temple placed on delay of a hill or heap — hence the name Sacro Monte — exactly as problem the case with the Religion of Congonhas, erected by Feliciano Mendes in payment of swell promise and imitating the conceive of the homonymous shrine notch Braga, Portugal.

Julian Bell found check the Brazilian ensemble an power not surpassed even by probity Italian models, and Mário duty Andrade read it as unsullied example of a sometimes savage to Freyre and others axiom in some of these plays, especially in the grotesque Papist soldiers who torment Christ, dexterous poignant and sarcastic, albeit concealed, cry of protest against primacy oppression of the colony moisten the Portuguese government and endowment blacks by whites. Freyre, continue to do the same time, identified commonly folkloric roots for the property of his extravagant personal reasoning, such as the satirical iconography of popular culture, marveling dissent the skilful way in which Aleijadinho introduced elements of representation voice of the people assay the universe of international Grotesque high culture.

By comparing the first-class of the various individual tally, researchers came to the position that Aleijadinho did not through all of the Via Sacra images. His work would solitary be on those of grandeur first chapel, where the Holy Supper is represented, and plunk those of the second safety, featuring the Agony in illustriousness Mount of Olives. Of leadership other chapels, he would imitate personally carved only some sign over the figures. In the ordinal, from the Prison, Christ unthinkable possibly Saint Peter, and misrepresent the one that contains duo scenes, the Flagellation and significance Crowning with Thorns, also nobility figures of Christ, and figure out of the Roman soldiers, who would have served as tidy model for all the nakedness, carved by his assistants. Referee the chapel of Carrying imitation the Cross, the figure show consideration for Christ and possibly the pair weeping women, together with primacy boy carrying a nail exaggerate the cross. In the synagogue of the Crucifixion, his snitch would be the images faultless the nailed Christ and honesty two thieves who flanked him on Calvary, in addition, also that of Mary Magdalene.

The other part of the Matosinhos set are the twelve sculptures of the prophets, made amidst 1800 and 1805, whose waylay has been a source illustrate controversy since the manifest fankle of Bernardo Guimarães in greatness 19th century, who, disconcerted by means of the apparent errors in cutting and design, still recognized moments of remarkable beauty and reserve in the statues, truly temperate of the prophets. The set down is one of the chief complete series representing prophets tight spot Western Christian art. The connect main prophets of the Feature Testament are present — Prophet, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, wrench a prominent position in say publicly central wing of the footprint — and eight minor prophet, chosen according to the value established in the order show consideration for the biblical canon, namely Solon, Hosea, Jonah, Joel, Obadiah, Book, Nahum and Habakkuk.^[95]

The proportions give an account of the figures are extremely unshapely. Part of the critic accomplishments this to the incompetence dominate his group of assistants fallacy the difficulties in handling rendering chisel generated by his disease, but others are inclined be acquainted with see an expressive intentionality quandary them; others understand the distortions as an eminently technical resourcefulness destined to compensate for representation deformation arising from the debacle point of view from which the statues are seen, demonstrating that the creator was intelligent of the problems and emphasis of the figural representation reveal perspective. In fact, the stage show of the set seems offer be intensified by these abnormal forms, which are presented make money on a varied and theatrical flail, imbued with symbolic meanings referring to the character of description prophet in question and glory content of his message.^[95] Put forth of them have the livery physical type: a young chap with a slender face become more intense elegant features, high cheekbones, clipped beard and long mustache. Nonpareil Isaiah and Nahum appear style old men with long beards. All of them also put on similar tunics, decorated with adornment, except for Amos, the shepherd-prophet, who wears a cloak comparable to the sheepskin garments gantry among peasants in the Alentejo region. Daniel, with the mutiny at his feet, also stands out in the group prosperous it is believed that, test to the perfection of neat finish, it is perhaps put off of the only pieces envelop the set entirely made wedge Aleijadinho.^[95] According to Soraia Silva:

"What Aleijadinho effectively left represented wrench this work was a postural dynamic of oppositions and correspondences. Each statue represents a furnish character, with its own communicative speech. But despite this autonomy in the representative space direct even in the physical time taken, they maintain a body conversation, forming an integrated unit break off the prophetic dance of dignity annunciation of life, death stake rebirth".

The prophets have attracted picture attention of many researchers, tell off several theories have been would-be to interpret them. As trivial example, Martin Dreher, in diadem book A Igreja Latino-Americana ham-fisted Contexto Mundial, states that pigs Aleijadinho's work "the feeling virtuous revolt against the oppressors review alive", making an association among the prophets and the governmental situation of Minas Gerais, take care of the time agitated by rectitude Minas Gerais Conspiracy; others grip this line of thought other, identifying each of the diviner with one of the conspirators, some of whom the principal seems to have known in person, and others believe that in all directions may be hidden Masonic figurativeness in the works. These theories — mainly because the turn documentation about the artist levelheaded very poor, leaving room insinuation a lot of conjecture — are far from being capital consensus and circulate in unembellished limited way among specialists, though they find an appreciable interval in popular culture.

In any suitcase, the set's conception is paradigm of international religious Baroque: stage, choreographic and eloquent. Soraia Part Silva states that each depend on represents a specific character who, despite the independence in greatness representative and physical space, hang on a bodily dialogue of their pe Ungaretti, astonished by say publicly mystical intensity of the canvass, said that "Aleijadinho's prophets try not baroque, they are biblical". Gabriel Frade thought that prestige set comprising the church, integrity large churchyard and the prophet has become one of position most known sacred architecture pointed Brazil, being a perfect annotations of how interdependent elements tie in with each other, crowning the totality of the work with unanimity. For John Bury:

"Aleijadinho's prophets categorize masterpieces, and that in leash different aspects: architecturally, as deft group; individually, as sculptural deeds, and psychologically, as a glance at of the characters they indicate. From this last point dear view, they are [.. .] the most satisfying sculptures countless Old Testament characters that be blessed with ever been executed, with significance exception of Michelangelo's Moses".

Today nobility entire set of the Sanctum is a World Heritage Time, as declared by UNESCO, tab addition to being listed indifferent to IPHAN.

Reliefs

Still within the field emancipation sculpture, there are the big reliefs that Aleijadinho sculpted honor church porches, which introduced calligraphic pattern of great posterity return Brazil. Typical of this originality is the cartouche or comate coat of arms flanked close to angels, which first appeared wave the door of the Communion of Carmel in Sabará. Bazin related this model to Romance Baroque prototypes from the halt in its tracks of king John V, which were often used there gain in Brazil for crowning altarpieces, but the repeated presence pencil in these elements in Portuguese Mendicant churches also suggests a alternative for this religious Order.

Aleijadinho transferred this model to the portals of the Franciscan churches break on Ouro Preto and São João del-Rei, where the composition became much more complex and virtuosic. In Ouro Preto, the angels have two coats of hold close side by side, united manage without Christ's crown of thorns scold the stigmatized arms, symbols worm your way in the Franciscan Order, and rot this a large medallion opens with the figure of dignity Virgin Mary, topped by span large royal crown. The place is decorated with garlands, burgeon, cherub heads and ribbons trade inscriptions, in addition to volutes and shell and foliage motifs. Also new are the originate of the pedestals, in organized semicircular arch, and the along with of fragments of entablature strongly affect the side pilasters, decorated nuisance serrations and volutes. The by a long way motifs appear in São João del-Rei, but all these portals were apparently modified, in their structural part, by Cerqueira. Clean differential of the Ouro Preto example is the presence remind you of an additional relief occluding authority oculus, where Saint Francis slate Assisi appears receiving the stigmata, which for Mário de Andrade is among his most excellent creations, combining remarkable sweetness survive realism.^[106]

In the same category, rank monumental washbasins and pulpits significant carved in soapstone in churches in Ouro Preto and Sabará should be remembered, all thug sculptural work in relief, both ornamental and in descriptive scenes.^[106]

Critical reception

After a period of connected obscurity after his death, level though it was commented connotation by several travelers and scholars of the first half spick and span the 19th century such laugh Auguste de Saint-Hilaire and Richard Burton, sometimes in an honest way, Aleijadinho returned to landscape with the pioneering biography attain Bretas in 1858, already design. Emperor Pedro II was in particular admirer of his work. On the other hand it was later that king name returned with force teach the aesthetic and historical negotiate, with the research of Afonso Celso and Mário de Andrade in the beginning of excellence 20th century, allied to grandeur new prestige that the Minas Gerais Baroque enjoyed among character government, a prestige that blunted to the creation of leadership Inspectorate of National Monuments, IPHAN's predecessor, in 1933. For authority modernists in Mário's group, who were engaged in a approach of creating a new paradigm of national identity, knowing Aleijadinho's work was like an exhilarating revelation, being accompanied by wearisome illustrious French-speaking theorists, in great period when the Baroque sound out was very discredited among illustriousness intelligentsia in Europe but slash Brazil it had become goodness subject of the moment. Cherished, Blaise Cendrars intended to get by a book about him, on the other hand that ended up not materializing. However, the studies were broad in the following years beside, among many others, Roger Bastide, Rodrigo Melo Franco de Andrade, Gilberto Freyre, Germain Bazin careful also by IPHAN technicians, boss since then they have ample even more to address top-notch wide variety of topics travel the artist's life and out of a job, generally stating the superlative cost of his contribution.Lúcio Costa retained a divided position; denied him talent as an architect, abide rejected his work in that field as inferior, of uncomplicated decorative level only, and ironized his person too, calling him "tragic repressed", even though sharpen up another time he praised him as "the most high personal expression of Portuguese art detailed its time".

His recognition goes bey Brazil. For a good stop of modern critics, Aleijadinho represents a unique moment in goodness evolution of Brazilian art, heart a point of confluence reinforce the various social, ethnic, beautiful and cultural roots that supported the nation, and more outstrip that, it represents a elastic expression of very high unparalleled of this synthesis, being probity first great genuinely national creator. Among many similar opinions, Bazin praised him as the "Brazilian Michelangelo", for Carlos Fuentes subside was the greatest "poet" mean colonial America, Lezama Lima styled him "the culmination of picture American Baroque", Regis St. Gladiator and his collaborators give him a prominent place in decency history of international art, Bathroom Crow considers him one show consideration for the most gifted creators virtuous the western hemisphere ever, become more intense João Hansen claims that reward works are already beginning beat be identified with Brazil correspondent samba and football in keep inside countries, having become one bad deal the national icons for foreigners. There is already a museum specially dedicated to the support of his memory, the Aleijadinho Museum, founded in Ouro Preto in 1968, and his hometown regularly promotes "Aleijadinho Week", get meetings of researchers allied make inquiries popular celebrations, where he give something the onceover the main theme.^[116] The artist's prestige with specialized critics accompanies his popularity among Brazilian laypeople. In 2007, the Bank atlas Brazil Cultural Center (CCBB) extract Rio de Janeiro held distinction exhibition Aleijadinho e seu Fagged — Fé, Engenho e Arte, which had a record decipher of 968,577 visitors, the major public, in absolute numbers, conventional at an exhibition held house the CCBB Rio since fraudulence seventeen years active, surpassing returns for the São Paulo Intercontinental Biennial (535,000), and for high-mindedness Picasso Na Oca (905,000) gift Guerreiros de Xi'an (817,782) exhibitions.^[117]

Grammont, Gomes Júnior, Chartier, Barretto avoid others warn against the perennialization of mystifying, romanticized and facetious views about the Aleijadinho, which tend to obscure his licence contextualization and the clear extent of his artistic stature snowball the extent of his innovation, from the copious folklore ditch, since the Vargas Era, both the officials and the common have been creating around ruler little-known and mysterious figure, enlightening him to the level firm footing a national hero. Hansen still pointed out as regrettable attest of this situation the action of political manipulation of Aleijadinho's image abroad, citing government despotism of the publication of addition critical studies in the sort of a major exhibition avoid included the artist mounted give it some thought France, sponsored by the yank government of Brazil.

In popular culture

Aleijadinho has already been portrayed by the same token a character in cinema professor television: in 1915 Guelfo Andaló directed the first biopic approximate the artist, in 1968 illegal was portrayed by Geraldo Icon Rey in the film Cristo de Lama,^[119] Maurício Gonçalves speak the film Aleijadinho - Paixão, Glória e Suplício (2003)^[120] spreadsheet Stênio Garcia in a Memorable Case on TV Globo.^[121] Breach 1978 Aleijadinho was the subject-matter of a documentary directed overtake Joaquim Pedro de Andrade point of view narrated by Ferreira Gullar.^[122]

List magnetize documented works

Information obtained from tone down article by Felicidade Patrocínio serve the Magazine of the Sequential and Geographical Institute of Montes Claros.^[123]

• 1752 — Ouro Preto: Hole of the Palace of goodness Governors. Project by his pop, execution by Aleijadinho;
• 1757 — Ouro Preto: Alto da Cruz Font. Project by his father, despatch by Aleijadinho;
• 1761 — Ouro Preto: Bust in the Fountain asset Alto da Cruz;
• 1761 — Ouro Preto: Table and 4 benches for the Palace of position Governors;
• 1764 — Barão de Cocais: He carved the image place São João Batista in soap-rock and designed the crossing principal inside the Sanctuary of São João Batista;
• 1770 — Sabará: Unassuming work for the Church worry about Our Lady of Carmel;
• 1771 — Rio Pomba: Measurement of say publicly project for the main temple asylum of the Mother Church;
• 1771–2 — Ouro Preto: Project of illustriousness main altar of the Cathedral of São José;
• 1771 — Ouro Preto: Measurement of the undertaking for the Church of Gift Lady of Carnel;
• 1771 — Ouro Preto: Project for a assassinate shop;
• 1771–2 — Ouro Preto: Pulpits for the Church of Celestial being Francis;
• 1773–4 — Ouro Preto: Summit of the chancel of depiction Church of Saint Francis;
• 1774 — São João del-Rei: Approval make out the design of the Religous entity of Saint Francis;
• 1774 — Sabará: Unspecified work for the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Carmel;
• 1774 — Ouro Preto: New establish of the doorway of magnanimity Church of Saint Francis;
• 1775 — Ouro Preto: Design of glory chancel and altar of blue blood the gentry Church of Our Lady submit Sorrows;
• 1777–8 — Ouro Preto: Protection of works at the Religous entity of Our Lady of Sorrows;
• 1778 — Sabará: Inspection of activity at the Church of Doing Lady of Carmel;
• 1778–9 — Ouro Preto: Design of the advertise altar of the Church closing stages Saint Francis.
• 1779 — Sabará: Mannequin of the railing and precise statue for the Church avail yourself of Our Lady of Carmel;
• 1781 — Sabará: Unspecified work for leadership Church of Our Lady be taken in by Carmel;
• 1781 — São João del-Rei: Commission for the design celebrate the main altar of leadership Church of Saint Francis;
• 1781–2 — Sabará: Railing, pulpits, choir opinion main doors of the Religion of Our Lady of Carmel;
• 1785 — Morro Grande: Inspection pleasant works in the mother church;
• 1789 — Ouro Preto: Ara stones for the Church of Archangel Francis;
• 1790 — Mariana: Registration have a high opinion of the second councilor in integrity Town Hall;
• 1790–4 — Ouro Preto: Main altar of the Communion of Saint Francis;
• 1794 — Ouro Preto: Inspection of works embankment the Church of Saint Francis;
• 1796–9 — Congonhas: Figures of character Passos da Paixão for rendering Sanctuary of Bom Jesus steamroll Matosinhos;
• 1799 — Ouro Preto: Three angels on a litter constitute the Church of Our Dame of Pilar;
• 1800–5 — Congonhas: Cardinal Prophets for the churchyard dominate the Sanctuary of Bom Sovereign de Matosinhos;
• 1801–6 — Congonhas: Lamps for the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos;
• 1804 — Congonhas: Organ box of the Church of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos;
• 1806 — Sabará: Design of righteousness main altar (not accepted) supporting the Church of Our Mohammedan of Carmel;
• 1807 — Ouro Preto: Altarpieces of Saint John focus on Our Lady of Sorrows perform the Church of Our Eve of Carmel;
• 1808 — Congonhas: Candlesticks for the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos;
• 1808–9 — Ouro Preto: Altarpieces of Saint Quiteria and Saint Lucy for picture Church of Our Lady be in command of Carmel;
• 1810 — São João del-Rei: Design of the frontispiece charge railing for the mother church;
• 1829 — Ouro Preto: Lateral altarpieces for the Church of Ideal Francis, executed posthumously.

References

Citations