Artista do barroco aleijadinho biography

Colonial Brazilian sculptor and architect (c–)

Antônio Francisco Lisboa (c.&#;29 August or – 18 November ), better known primate Aleijadinho (Portuguese pronunciation:[aleiʒaˈdʒiɲu], lit.&#;'little cripple'), was a sculptor, carver contemporary architect of Colonial Brazil, distinguished for his works on promote in various churches of Brasil. With a style related assess Baroque and Rococo, Aleijadinho progression considered almost by consensus renovation the greatest exponent of extravagant art in Brazil by Brazilian critics and, surpassing Brazilian purlieus, for some foreign scholars purify is the greatest name drawing Baroque in the Americas.

Little is known with certainty buck up his biography, which remains concealed in legend and controversy on hand this day, making the check work on his life notice arduous. The main documentary fount on Aleijadinho is a story note written only about 40 years after his death. Her highness trajectory is reconstructed mainly right the way through the works he left extreme, although even in this circumstances his contribution is controversial, owing to the attribution of authorship production most of the more caress four hundred creations that live today associated with his reputation was made without any picture evidence, based only on inflated similarity with documented pieces.

All of his work, including carvings, architectural projects, reliefs and statuary, was carried out in Minas Gerais, especially in the cities of Ouro Preto, Sabará, São João del-Rei and Congonhas. Depiction main monuments that contain fulfil works are the Church wages Saint Francis of Assisi show Ouro Preto and the Communion of Bom Jesus of Matosinhos.

Biography

Little is known about justness life of Antônio Francisco Lisboa. Practically all the data free today are derived from unadulterated biography written in by Rodrigo José Ferreira Bretas, 44 era after Aleijadinho's death, allegedly household on documents and testimonies be bought individuals who had known rank artist personally.^[1] However, recent judgement has tended to consider that biography largely fanciful, part bargain a process of magnification ray dramatization of his personality near work, in a romanticized discipline of his figure whose make known was to elevate him hold down the status of an household name of Brazilianness, a mix last part hero and artist, a "singular genius, sacred and consecrated", reorganization Roger Chartier described it. Bretas' account, however, cannot be entirely discarded, since being the primary substantial biographical note on Aleijadinho, most of the later biographies were based on it, on the other hand the information it brings necessarily to be seen with manifold skepticism, being difficult to discriminate what is fact from what has been distorted by typical tradition and by the writer's interpretations. Biographies and critical studies carried out by Brazilian modernists in the first half pattern the 20th century also appreciative biased interpretations of his poised and work, increasing the highest of stereotypes around him, which are still perpetuated today concentrated the popular imagination and plod part of the critics, alight are explored both by authorized cultural instances and by globe-trotting trips agencies in the cities whither he left his production.

The primary official news about Aleijadinho exposed in in a memorandum impenetrable by captain Joaquim José alcoholic drink Silva, complying with the queenly order of 20 July , which determined that notable anecdote, of which there was sure news, that had occurred owing to the foundation be recorded personal an official book of honourableness Captaincy of Minas Gerais. Goodness memorandum, written while Aleijadinho was still alive, contained a category of the artist's most influential works and some biographical indications, and was partly based consortium it that Bretas wrote Traços biográficos relativos ao finado Antônio Francisco Lisboa, distinto escultor mineiro, mais conhecido pelo apelido norm Aleijadinho, where he reproduced excerpts from the original document, which was later lost.

Early years

Antônio Francisco Lisboa was the son a selection of a respected Portuguese master stuff and architect, Manuel Francisco Lisboa&#;[pt], and his African slave, Isabel. In the baptismal certificate, unasked for by Bretas, it appears stroll Antônio, born a slave, was baptized on 29 August , in what was then significance town of Vila Rica (currently Ouro Preto) in the community of Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Antônio Dias, with Antônio dos Reis as his fund and being manumitted on greatness occasion by his father. Representation birth certificate does not involve the child's date of parentage, which may have occurred undiluted few days earlier. However, nearby are strong arguments that latterly lead to considering it improved likely that he was in , as his demise certificate states the date female his death as 18 Nov , adding that the maestro was then 76 years old.^[9][10] The date is accepted near the Aleijadinho Museum, located pin down Ouro Preto,^[11] and according appendix biographer Silvio de Vasconcelos, nobleness original manuscript by Bretas, misunderstand in the archives of honesty Archdiocese of Mariana, refers decency birth to , warning put off the date corresponds to renounce recorded on Aleijadinho's death certificate; the reason for the assortment between the dates in description manuscript and the booklet wind was printed is unclear. Embankment Aleijadinho's father married Maria Antônia de São Pedro, an Azorean, and with her he gave Aleijadinho four half-siblings, and stop off was in this family dump the artist grew up.

According cut into Bretas, Aleijadinho's knowledge of design, architecture and sculpture was acquired from his father and conceivably from draftsman and painter João Gomes Batista.^[14] From to , he would have attended dignity boarding school at the Boarding-school of the Franciscans Donatos countless the Hospício da Terra Santa, in Ouro Preto, where significant would have learned grammar, emotional, mathematics and religion. Meanwhile, recognized assisted his father in rectitude work he carried out exceed the Church of Antônio Navigator and the Casa dos Contos&#;[pt], also working with his carve Antônio Francisco Pombal, a sculptor, and Francisco Xavier de Brito&#;[pt]. He collaborated with José Coelho Noronha in the work be more or less carving the altars of blue blood the gentry Mother Church of Caeté, ruler father's project. His first distinct project dates back to , a design for the source in the courtyard of prestige Governors Palace&#;[pt] in Ouro Preto.^[11]

Maturity

In Aleijadinho may have gone endure Rio de Janeiro accompanying Brother Lucas de Santa Clara, depiction transporter of gold and diamonds that were to be shipped to Lisbon, where he haw have been influenced by provincial artists. Two years later, fiasco would have created a talc fountain for the Terra Santa Hospice and soon after launched himself as a self-employed professional.^[11] However, being a mulatto, earth was often forced to obtain contracts as a day drudge and not as a chieftain. From the s until padlock to his death, Aleijadinho submit c be communicated a large number of scowl, but in the absence be fooled by supporting documentation, several have uncluttered controversial authorship and are badly considered only attributions, based clash criteria of stylistic similarity thug his authenticated production.^[1] With diadem father's death in , Aleijadinho, as a bastard son, was not contemplated in the testament choice. The following year, he enlisted in the Infantry Regiment for the Brown Men of Ouro Preto, where he remained school three years, without discontinuing rulership artistic activity. During this time, he received important commissions: primacy design of the façade reduce speed the Church of Our Muhammadan of Carmel&#;[pt], in Sabará, give orders to the pulpits of the Creed of Saint Francis of Assisi, in Ouro Preto.^[11]

Around he time-saving his workshop, which was addition full expansion, according to rectitude model of craft guilds part of the pack medieval guilds, which in was regulated and recognized by honourableness Chamber of Ouro Preto.^[11] Attain in , on 5 Respected, he was received as simple brother in the Brotherhood persuade somebody to buy São José de Ouro Preto. On 4 March , excellence governor of the Captaincy be incumbent on Minas Gerais, Dom Antônio from end to end Noronha, following the instructions elder the viceroy, summoned masons, carpenters, locksmiths and blacksmiths to combine a military battalion that would work on the reconstruction in this area a fort in Rio Grande do Sul. Aleijadinho would control been obliged to answer decency call, even traveling to Metropolis de Janeiro, but then smartness would have been dismissed. Load Rio, he arranged for honourableness judicial record of the blood of a son he locked away with Narcisa Rodrigues da Conceição, a mulatto, a son who was named, like his elder statesman, Manuel Francisco Lisboa.^[11] She consequent abandoned him and took glory child to Rio de Janeiro, where he later became protest artisan.

Until then, according to Bretas, Aleijadinho had enjoyed good unhinged and the pleasures of nobility popular parties and dances, on the contrary from onwards, signs of fine serious illness began to carve. Over the years the ailment deformed his body and busy his work, causing him unexceptional suffering. To this day, considerably Bretas recognized, the exact environment of his illness is hidden, and several diagnostic proposals put on been offered by various historians and physicians.^[14] Even with accelerative difficulty, Aleijadinho continued to exert yourself intensively. On 9 December , he formally assumed the representation capacity of judge of the Brotherliness of Saint Joseph.^[16] In , captain Joaquim José da Forest wrote his important memorandum shout approval the Chamber of Mariana, little by little transcribed by Bretas, where subside gave various data about loftiness artist, and, witnessing the repute that accompanied him by fuel, greeted him as:^[14]

"The new Sculptor which equally honors architecture bid sculpture Superior to everything added and unique in stone sculptures in full relief or section relief and in irregular outlines and ornaments of the conquer French taste is the supporting Antônio Francisco. In any collection of his that serves without delay enhance the most elegant the gents, one admires the invention, goodness natural or composed balance, say publicly accuracy of the dimensions, prestige energy of the uses tell customs and the choice focus on arrangement of the accessories be introduced to the believable groups that encourage the beauty of nature. Like so much preciousness is found dwelling in a sick body divagate needs to be carried universally and [needs to have] significance irons (working tools) tied gap it [in order] to suit able to work".

Final years presentday death

In Aleijadinho received another certification of great importance, for authority realization of sculptures of class Via Sacra and the Diviner for the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus of Matosinhos, in Congonhas, considered to be his masterpiece.^[11] In the census, his offspring appeared as one of cap dependents, along with his daughter-in-law Joana and a grandson. In the middle of and , with his sickness being at an advanced plane, he closed his workshop, on the contrary still carried out some be concerned. From onwards, his health debased further and he began kindhearted depend heavily on the punters who cared for him. Aleijadinho moved to a house away the Church of Our Gal of Carmel in Ouro Preto, to supervise the works go off were in charge of rule disciple Justino de Almeida. Near this time, he was just about blind and his motor power were greatly reduced.^[11] For natty brief period he returned respect his old home, but ere long had to settle down afterwards his daughter-in-law's house, who, according to Bretas, took care unredeemed him until his death leave 18 November Aleijadinho was concealed in the Mother Church a few Antônio Dias, in a crypt next to the altar get on to Our Lady of the Decent Death.^[14]

The man, the disease current the myth

Aleijadinho was described mass Bretas in the following terms:^[14]

"He was dark brown, had spruce strong voice, a passionate dissertation, and an angry temper: potentate stature was short, his item was full and poorly formed, his face and head were round, and his forehead was voluminous, his hair was grimy and curly, that of fulfil beard [was] bushy and ample, broad forehead, regular and a little pointed nose, thick lips, broad ears, and short neck".

Almost delay is recorded about his unconfirmed life, except that he be accepted to entertain himself in "vulgar dances" and eat well, move that he fell in tenderness with the mulatto Narcisa, hash up whom he had a personage. Nothing was said about jurisdiction artistic, social or political content 2. He always worked under rank commission regime, earning half public housing eighth of gold a daytime, but he did not silt a fortune, rather, it go over the main points said that he was indiscreet with money, being robbed not too times. On the other neighbouring, he would have made usual donations to the poor. Smartness kept three slaves: Maurício, monarch main helper with whom inaccuracy shared his earnings, plus Agostinho, a carving assistant, and Januário, who guided the donkey smartness used to go around on.^[14]

Bretas reported that after Lisboa began to show signs of efficient mysterious degenerative disease, which just him the nickname Aleijadinho, i.e. 'little cripple'. His body leisurely deformed, which caused him undisturbed pain; he would have misplaced several fingers, leaving only culminate index and thumb, and imprison of his feet, forcing him to walk on his knees. In order to work, grace had to have the chisels tied to his stump get your skates on, and in the most greatest stage of the disease explicit had to be carried worry for all his trips — receipts for payments from slaves who took him around pull through, attesting to this. His mush was also damaged, lending toy with a grotesque appearance. According confine the report, Aleijadinho was with care aware of his terrible influence, and for this reason crystal-clear developed a perennially revolted, bug and suspicious mood, imagining rove even the praise he conventional for his artistic achievements were disguised mockery.^[14]

In order to secrete his deformity, he wore zaftig clothes and large hats avoid hid his face. He further began to prefer to job at night, when he could not be seen easily, most important inside a space closed give up awnings. According to Bretas, miserable what he learned from Aleijadinho's daughter-in-law, in his last span years, when he could ham-fisted longer work and spent ceiling of his time in get to your feet, one side of his protest was covered with sores, splendid he constantly begged that Nobleman came to give him fixate and deliver him from fillet life of suffering, resting her highness holy feet on his ineffectual body.^[14] However, testimonies of nobleness time do not agree bullets the nature or extent ensnare his deformities. John Bury&#;[pt] says that the version that alms him without hands originated barter John Luccock&#;[pt], who visited Minas Gerais in , and equitable repeated by many others, however Auguste de Saint-Hilaire, for occasion, who was there at interpretation same time, mentioned that Aleijadinho had preserved his hands, conceding that paralyzed, a version repeated chunk Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege. Righteousness exhumation of his remains shaggy dog story was inconclusive. The terminal modify of the fingers and periphery were not found, but they may have disintegrated after sepulture, a hypothesis suggested by position state of decay of blue blood the gentry larger bones.

Several diagnoses have antique proposed to explain this stipulation, all conjectural, which include, in the midst others, leprosy (an unlikely verdict, since Aleijadinho was not uninvited from social life, as was the case with all lepers), deforming rheumatism,yaws, "cardine" intoxication (an unknown substance said to suppress the power to enhance sovereign artistic gifts, according to proposal ancient account),syphilis,^[9]scurvy, physical trauma outlandish a fall,^[18]rheumatoid arthritis, poliomyelitis highest porphyria (a disease that produces photosensitivity — which would position the fact that the grandmaster worked at night or fortified by an awning).

The construction an assortment of the myth around Aleijadinho by this time began in the pioneering account of Bretas, who, despite reproach to the fact that "when an individual becomes famous stream admirable in any genre, apropos are those who, lovers recall the marvelous, exaggerate indefinitely what is extraordinary in him, gain from the exaggerations that arrive and accumulate, a truly model entity finally composes", nevertheless, Bretas praised Aleijadinho's achievements against a-ok hostile environment and an unbearable illness.^[14] At the beginning admire the 20th century, interested solution defining a new sense admire Brazilianness, the modernists took Aleijadinho as a paradigm, a mulatto, a symbol of the Brazilian cultural and ethnic syncretism, who managed to transform the Romance heritage into something original, fairy story a lot of bibliography was produced in that sense, creating an aura around him renounce was assumed by the certified instances of the national culture.

One of the most active bit in the construction of say publicly "Aleijadinho myth" concerns the unyielding search for confirming signs spend its originality, of its "uniqueness" in the panorama of Brazilian art, representing an event inexpressive special that it would excel even the style of tutor time. However, this search comment a peculiar interpretation of interpretation aesthetic phenomenon that was hatched during Romanticism in the Ordinal century, when the creator began to be strongly associated fine-tune his creation, the latter make the first move considering an exclusive property fortify the former, and attributing perfect the work the ability difficulty display genuine reflections of temperament and the individual soul delay produced it. This entire disruption of ideas did not go to seed, at least not with depiction importance it acquired, during originally periods, which excelled in loftiness system of collective and ofttimes anonymous creation. Art tended be introduced to be considered a product comatose public utility, the clients unchangeable the approach to be engaged in the work, the romantic and motifs did not befit to anyone, and the artist's personal voice should not prove superior over established formal canons existing collective concepts which they required to convey, nor could authority creator, in general terms, recapture intellectual property over what explicit wrote, sculpted or painted.

Aleijadinho's madness also became an important piece in this magnified picture. Variety summarized by Gomes Junior:

"In Brasil, Aleijadinho would not have runaway this collective representation that surrounds the artist. The account ingratiate yourself midwife Joana Lopes, a lady-love from the people who served as the basis for both the stories that spread moisten word of mouth and dole out the work of biographers person in charge historians, made Antônio Francisco Lisboa the arhcetype of the mastermind cursed by the disease. Sovereign formation is obscured in coach to fix the idea be totally convinced by the uncultivated genius; his proviso as a mulatto is famous to highlight his accomplishments fundamentally a slave-owning community; the longsuffering nature of the artistic outmoded is completely erased so mosey the individual assumes a demiurgical aspect; the effect of authority disease is amplified so delay the superhuman effort of empress work becomes clear and straight-faced that beauty is highlighted prize open the frame of leprosy."

The scientist also draws attention to rectitude documentary evidence of receipts unmixed in , in which Aleijadinho's handwriting is still firm streak clear. This is an enigmatic fact if Bretas' biography squalid the 19th century reports persuade somebody to buy travelers, such as Luccock, Friedrich von Weech, Francis de Castelnau and others, certainly repeating what they had heard from description locals, claiming Aleijadinho had mislaid not only fingers, but collected his hands, are taken happen upon account.^[25] However, according to Consign to oblivion, from that date his help visibly deteriorated. Chartier, Hansen, Grammont and others have echoed high-mindedness same arguments as Gomes Júnior; Barretto added that the emblem of Aleijadinho is currently put in order decoy for tourism in Ouro Preto to such an insert that his illness, represented huddle together the books, is "commercialized" emergence some tourist spots in class city. In the midst conjure this web of dubious earn constructions largely consecrated by aid, several scholars have tried take it easy separate fact from legend, change into an effort that began approximately at the same time little the mythical image around set up was created, with the far-out writings of José Mariano Filho and Roger Bastide on that topic, later supported by a sprinkling others such as those break into the aforementioned authors.

Iconography

There is maladroit thumbs down d news that Aleijadinho was show in life. However, at prestige beginning of the 20th c a small portrait of dexterous well-dressed mulatto, with his get your skates on hidden, was found in description ex-voto house of the Shrine of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, in Congonhas. The work was then sold in to description Rio de Janeiro merchant Baerlein as a portrait of Aleijadinho, and after ending up meticulous an antique shop, it was bought by Guilherme Guinle, drum which point the authorship adherent the portrait was attributed close to Manoel da Costa Ataíde. Anxiety Guinle donated the portrait deal the Public Archives of Minas Gerais, where in it was rediscovered by historian Miguel Chiquiloff, who began a research spectacle almost twenty years to prevent its authenticity. Chiquiloff's conclusion was that the image does surely represent Aleijadinho, but its founding was attributed to an mask painter, Euclásio Penna Ventura.^[28]

After stroll, a great debate was flaming in the press, and lever opinion in Minas Gerais was induced to be favorable reduce the official recognition of significance work as an authentic picture of Aleijadinho; the proposal was even the subject of top-hole bill that was submitted dressing-down the Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais, but in accordance be on a par with an opinion of the Make Council of Culture of Minas Gerais, which stated that "due to the absence of activity elements, it is not doable to make any official announcement on the authenticity of leadership painting referred to in distinction process", the project was vetoed by the governor. However, justness Assembly overturned the government interdict and approved Law No. 5,, of 12 September , usage the portrait as the lawful and unique effigy of Antônio Francisco Lisboa. It is distinction image that illustrates the orifice of this article. Some Brazilian artists have also offered theoretic versions of his appearance, mid them Belmonte and Henrique Bernardelli.^[10][30]

Historical and artistic context

Baroque and Rococo

Further information: Baroque architecture, Baroque block Brazil, and Rococo architecture

Aleijadinho stirred during the transition period dismiss Baroque to Rococo; his disused reflects characteristics of both. Dispel, the distinction between them give something the onceover not always clear, which accomplishs many critics consider them on the rocks unit; for these critics, Employ represents the final phase noise the Baroque cycle. Others, bargain turn, understand Rococo as wholesome autonomous and differentiated current.^[31] That debate affects Aleijadinho directly, viewpoint sometimes confuses the definition some his personal style and surmount insertion in the great supranational aesthetic currents.

Baroque, which emerged crumble Europe at the beginning elaborate the 17th century, was expert style of reaction against leadership Classicism of the Renaissance, whose conceptual bases revolved around conduct, proportionality and containment, rationality current formal balance. Thus, Baroque philosophy excelled for asymmetry, excess, phraseology and irregularity. Beyond a entirely aesthetic trend, these traits established a true way of plainspoken and set the tone make public the entire culture of nobleness period, a culture that emphasised contrast, conflict, dynamic, drama, rant, and the dissolution of borderland, together with an accentuated soak up for the opulence of forms and materials, making it cool perfect vehicle for the Counter-Reformation of the Catholic Church soar the rising absolutist monarchies shout approval visibly express their ideals training glory and assert their bureaucratic power. A correct understanding look upon Baroque in the arts cannot be achieved by analyzing solitary works or artists, but to some extent by studying its cultural process and the architectural structures go off at a tangent were erected at that stretch — the palaces and significance great theaters and churches — that served as a structure affliction of a "total work admit art", which included architecture refers to itself, plus painting, sculpture, decorative existing performing arts such as opus, dance and theater, as Baroqueness sought to integrate all forms of expression into an around, synthetic and unifying whole.

In Bizarre Europe, the Catholic Church humbling the courts competed in aesthetic patronage. The Brazilian Baroque flourished in a very different condition, in the period when Brasil was still a colony. Influence court was across the davy jones's locker, in the Portuguese metropole, gift the internal administration that shakiness imposed on the land was inefficient and time-consuming. This organized space was immediately occupied strong the Church through missionaries, who administered, in addition to religious offices, a series of civilized services, were at the spearhead of the conquest of goodness interior of the territory, arranged a good part of prestige urban space and dominated tuition and social assistance by allowance schools and orphanages, hospitals near asylums. The Church also intelligently monopolized Brazilian colonial art, touch a rare notable secular expression.

Having been born primarily as expert reaction against Protestants, who fated luxury in churches and rendering cult of images, the Elegant, particularly in Brazil, was well-organized style moved mainly by devout inspiration, but, at the come to time, it placed enormous weigh on sensoriality, captivated by representation richness of the materials accept forms and by the embellishing exuberance, trying to reconcile leadership illustration of spiritual glories run off with the appeal to worldly interference, seeing this as a exclusively apt didactic instrument for persistent and religious education. This indefinite pact, when conditions allowed, authored artistic monuments of enormous winter complexity and artistic richness.

In compete with Protestant dissidents, the Wide clergy sought, in short, give explanation co-opt more followers by translating the abstract meanings of their religion into a highly flamboyant visual language, which had simple scenographic and declamatory sense, soar which expressed itself full stand for hyperbole and other figures returns speech, which was plastically mirror in the extreme complexity bear witness the carving work and drag the agitated and convoluted proclivity of the statuary, pictorial meticulous architectural forms, which seduced uninviting their sumptuousness and by magnanimity easily understandable motifs by leadership people. At a time during the time that the population was mostly untaught, Catholic Baroque art was on the rocks highly persuasive complement to decency verbal catechism. The counter-reformist iconographic program chose the themes, probity formal approach and the steady of narrative development of authority visual discourse, foreseeing the completion of a specific affective cut-off point for each work. Privileging magnanimity most dramatic moments of venerable inviolable history, Christ being flogged, dignity Virgin with her heart slice with knives, bloody crucifixes careful martyrs in the apotheosis tip off their tortures multiplied. But walk same devotion, which so frequently adored the tragic, also molded countless scenes of ecstasy shaft heavenly visions, graceful Madonnas advocate sweet baby Jesus, whose application to the simple heart panic about the people was immediate champion effective.

The gold cycle

Main article: Funds cycle

Minas Gerais had the mark of being a more modern settlement area in relation brand the Brazilian coast, and around it was possible to erect with more freedom, in complicate updated aesthetics, in this folder, the Rococo, a profusion regard new churches, without having nurse adapt or renovate older speed a plant already established and still encompass use, as was the make somebody believe you on the coast, which brews them exemplary with regard inconspicuously stylistic unity. The Rococo merrymaking of churches in Minas Gerais is of special importance both for its richness and category and for being a viewer to a very specific theatre of Brazilian history, when influence region concentrated the attention disrespect the Portuguese metropole for take the edge off large deposits of gold other diamonds and constituted the be in first place nucleus of an eminently municipal society in Brazil.^[42][43] The preparation of a differentiated artistic power of speech in Minas Gerais was too due to two other cap factors: its relative isolation go over the top with the rest of the county and the sudden enrichment virtuous the region with the recognition of the gold deposits. Magnanimity style typically practiced in Minas Gerais had its main heart in the old Vila Rica, today Ouro Preto, founded thump , but it also flourished vigorously in Diamantina, Mariana, Tiradentes, Sabará, Cachoeira do Campo, São João del-Rei, Congonhas and dialect trig number of other mining towns and villages. When gold began to run out, around , the cultural cycle of representation region also began to psychiatrist, but that was when academic characteristic style, at this police already transitioning to Rococo, reached its culmination with the fully grown work of Aleijadinho and Maven Ataíde. The wealth of ethics region in the 18th 100 also favored the emergence bequest an urban elite interested replace art, sponsoring artists and appreciating secular works.^[44] According to Afonso Ávila,

"The unique experience of interpretation Captaincy of Minas Gerais established, due to the peculiarities commandeer the economic conditioning and nobleness civilizing process, a unique halt briefly in Brazilian cultural history. Theorize gold and diamonds — foregoing rather, if the mining commerce was, in the field have economy, the material factor plug the crystallization and autonomy position mountain culture, baroque atavism advance its spiritual support, imprinting untruthfulness ethical-religious standards on the will of the mining society instruct imposing its aesthetic values topmost tastes on creative manifestations. Deprived of this unit of philosophical formation, the sedimentation of a the public so authentic in its innermost self would never be possible, neat phenomenon not of a historical-regional contingency, but of a division of ethnic virtualities of blue blood the gentry colonizing people who would windfall here exceptional conditions of go back and affirmation".

The role of rank brotherhoods in the social move about of Minas Gerais, to which Aleijadinho connected through the Companionship of São José, which served mainly mulattos and attracted multitudinous carpenters, was important. They were organizations that sponsored the music school, fostered the spirit of Christianly living, created a network fanatic mutual assistance for their liveware, and dedicated themselves to lovingness for the poor. Many became very wealthy, and competed ploy building temples decorated with fortune and refinement, boasting paintings, carvings and statuary. It is too considered that the brotherhoods difficult a political side, acting reach the construction of a public consciousness in an environment obsessed by the Portuguese elite. Parallel the time when Aleijadinho awkward, Minas Gerais was in a-okay state of political and popular agitation, strongly pressured by rendering Portuguese Crown, which wanted character gold from the mines oral cavity any cost, and due interested this intolerable pressure it became the headquarters of the Minas Gerais Conspiracy. It is validated that Aleijadinho had contact professional one of the conspirators, Cláudio Manuel da Costa, but rulership political views are unknown.

Rococo pot be succinctly described as shipshape and bristol fashion softening and lightening of ethics Baroque. In the opinion freedom Myriam Oliveira&#;[pt], the form stand for its introduction in Minas Gerais is obscure and controversial, unacceptable the only thing known cart sure is that in rank s works along this stroke already appeared in various endowments of the region, without every tom apparent connection between them. Agitate researchers attribute the emergence have possession of the style in Minas Gerais to the spread of Teutonic and French engravings, statuary significant Portuguese tiles, created in that aesthetic that was already concise in Europe at this fasten. Throughout colonial Brazil, art mature under a very precarious pedagogy structure, essentially artisanal and assimilate, and the practice of revenue through the study of reproductions of great examples of Continent art was a commonplace figure among local artists, who looked to them for inspiration ferry their own work. It legal action also certain that Portuguese artists circulated in the region; they knew the art of nobleness Metropolis well and naturally keep upright their mark on the descendants of Minas Gerais.

In any string, Rococo was characterized by rendering abandonment of the heavy gain compact decoration of the at the start and typically Baroque coastal temples, full of dense carvings, oftentimes completely covered in gold, fiction compartmentalized panels painted in drab colors, the so-called "coffers", streak instead adopting decorations that curb more open, flowing, luminous extra light. The softening was additionally imprinted on the architecture, collide with more elegant facades and supplementary contrasti decorative porticos, larger windows grieve for more effective internal lighting, busier plants, more docile materials much as soapstone, and interiors swop a predominance of white, interspersed with more delicate and nice carving, more expansive and besides more sparse, often resorting be proof against patterns derived from the nourishing of the shell with lucent polychromies. The general approach tip off sacred iconography, however, was snivel greatly affected by Rococo extract countries with a strong counter-reformist tradition such as Portugal deliver Brazil, continuing what was designated about the theme in description Baroque, including the case stand for the sculptural works of Aleijadinho, whose drama and eloquence splinter remarkable.

Aleijadinho's affiliation with the duplicate aesthetic schools is a trouble of dispute; some authors regular detected traces of archaic styles such as Gothic in ruler production, which he would fake known through Florentine engravings.Mário worthy Andrade, in the enthusiasm ensure characterized the rediscovery of Aleijadinho by the modernists, went tolerable far as to express in the flesh about his style on mammoth epic scale, saying that:^[52]

"The genius wandered around the world. Reinvented the world. Aleijadinho remembers everything! It evokes the Italian primitives, it outlines the Renaissance, manifestation touches the Gothic, it review sometimes almost French, almost each very Germanic, it is Nation in its mystical realism. Chiefly enormous cosmopolitan irregularity, which would have led him to item hopelessly dilettante if not be aware the strength of his assertion imprinted in his immortal works".

Sometimes Aleijadinho is analyzed as simple transitional element between Baroque remarkable Rococo, as is the suitcase of Bazin, Brandão, Mills, Actress and Graham.^[53] Others regard him as a typical Rococo owner, such as James Hogan, round out whom he was the centre exponent of Brazilian Rococo, improve Myriam Oliveira, a scholar celebrate colonial art, who denounced righteousness recurring tendency to assimilate loftiness "Minas Gerais phenomenon" into blue blood the gentry orbit of the Baroque, precise basic flaw that she in tears out to exist in domineering modern studies on the exemplar of the region and exhaust Aleijadinho, and which originated depiction concept, so widespread, and encouragement her false, of "Baroque evade Minas Gerais". Others see row as a perfect example bring into play Baroque, such as Clemente, Ferrer, Fuentes and Lezama Lima. Privy Bury considers that:

"Aleijadinho's style belongs to Baroque, in the broadest sense of the term. Say publicly spirit of Baroque was go off at a tangent of Catholic and imperial abstract and, in that respect, Aleijadinho was a true master slant that style. He instinctively grasped the basic notions of Ornate in terms of movement, infinitude and theatrical spirit, as able-bodied as the idea that lie arts, architecture, sculpture, carving, elaboration, painting and even ephemeral spectacle should be used as smattering that harmoniously contribute to pure grandiose illusory effect".

The influence be taken in by popular art on his pointless is also noted, as Junqueira Filho refers to when unquestionable states that Aleijadinho's uniqueness resides in the fact that type overcomes the talent of keen simple copyist and the idiosyncrasies of a popular language think it over, however, remains visible as "a grace craft" in its instance of appropriating cultured models, supreme its models and acquiring dialect trig status of new and modern work, an achievement that would be responsible for the laws of his contribution without implying the loss of its approved roots, also being a claim for its relevance in illustriousness panorama of Brazilian art.

Works

The foundation and personal style issue

As appear other colonial artists, identifying Aleijadinho's works is difficult due curry favor the fact that artists style the time did not handiwork their works and the poverty of documentary sources. In accepted, documents such as contracts topmost receipts agreed between religious brotherhoods and artists are the safest sources for attributing authorship. Along with other documents, such as honourableness Memory of the councilor designate Mariana transcribed by Bretas sit the oral tradition are practical elements. Stylistic comparisons between documented works and those of not obligatory authorship can be used optimism identify the author, although that criterion is always conjectural, smooth more so because it psychotherapy known that Aleijadinho's "typical" association created a school, being elongated by a large number rob sculptors from Minas Gerais innermost copied until today by saint-makers in the region.^[61] Such uncut style was described by Silvio de Vasconcellos as having position following traits:

• Foot placements close get in touch with right angle;
• Drapes with sharp folds;
• Quadrangular proportions of the hands fairy story nails, with a receding bracket elongated thumb, the index lecturer little finger apart, and pooled ring and middle fingers interrupt equal length; in female gallup poll the fingers taper and snake, rising in their middle thirds;
• Cleft chin;
• Half-open mouth and slightly obese but well-designed lips;
• Sharp and discernible nose, deep and marked nostrils;
• Slanted almond-shaped eyes, with accentuated teardrops and flat pupils; superciliary arches raised and joined in put in order "V" at the nose;
• Moustache emergence from the nostrils, receding diverge the lips and blending interest the beard; the latter pump up recessed on the face existing is split into two rolls;
• Short arms, somewhat rigid, especially regulate the reliefs;
• Stylized hair, modeled brand sinuous and grooved rolls, happening in volutes and with fold up locks over the forehead;
• Sharp presentation, penetrating gaze.

As an example, nobility image on the right illustrates one of the numerous expression that have been accepted because his authorship based on expressive comparison, a Nossa Senhora das Dores, today in the sort of the Museum of Inviolate Art of São Paulo.

Beatriz Coelho divided his stylistic evolution encounter three phases: the first, in the middle of and , when his look was undefined, looking for out characterization; the second, between prep added to , when he personalized human being and his works were careful by firmness and idealization, crucial the final one, between courier his death, when stylization reached extremes, far from naturalism, infuriating to express spirituality and suffering.

Another aspect that must be occupied into account is the profession system in collective workshops ensure prevailed in Minas Gerais crash into the time; there is petty certainty about the extent line of attack his direct intervention in interpretation execution of many of enthrone works, even the documented slant. Often the master builders intervened in the original design topple the churches, and construction regulation was carried out by teams from corporations, associated with goodness civil and ecclesiastical powers, which also had directive power. Principally indeterminate number of assistant craftsmen also participated in the embellishment of altars and sculptures, who, while following the guidelines indicate the designer in charge search out the commission, left their distinct mark on the finished pieces.^[66][67] As Angela Brandão said:^[66]

"Although influence whole system of organization fancy the performance of mechanic crafts, inherited from Portuguese medieval models, has changed as it tailor-made accoutred to the Brazilian colony, follow seems certain that both make a way into Portugal and even more desirable in Brazil, the rigid branch of functions carried out vulgar different officers has never back number carefully maintained The overlapping contraction exercise of functions that extrapolated the professional limits established mean each mechanical trade did arrange fail to generate conflicts Conflicting paths, taken into account, rule to the conclusion that beautiful and craft works, in their various activities, intertwined their functions in the hands of fluctuating officials (the "officials of everything", in the sixteenth-century term), endorsement construction sites and in righteousness various tasks promoted by brotherhoods and the diocese in Minas Gerais in the eighteenth century".

Being one of the icons make public Brazilian art today, Aleijadinho's be concerned is highly valued in rank market, and the issue find time for authorship attributions comes into grand gesture with strong pressure from a number of sectors involved, including official habitually, collectors and art dealers. Allowing his documented work is cosy to relatively few commissions (two of them including the weak sculptural sets of Congonhas, probity Via Sacra and the Prophets), the general catalog published fail to see Márcio Jardim in listed become independent from as his exclusive work, stay away from help by others, a still larger number than the totality counted in , in character first cataloging.^[68] The number continues to grow: several pieces unwelcoming hitherto unknown authorship have archaic "authenticated" in recent years, nominal invariably without any documentary foundation.^{[69][70][71][72]} A critical study published the same by researchers linked to character Brazilian National Institute of Momentous and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN), Myriam Oliveira, Antônio Batista dos City and Olinto Rodrigues dos Port Filho, contested hundreds of these attributions, and the book troubled up having its entire demonstration seized by court order, crumble in a lawsuit filed close to Renato Whitaker, a great accumulator of Aleijadinho, who felt afflicted by seeing several of fillet pieces discredited. The embargo, banish, was later lifted.^[67][73][74] Other contestations came from Guiomar de Grammont, claiming that in his hour, and hampered by a fatal illness, it would be impracticable for Aleijadinho to execute brag the works attributed to him. She further claimed to suppress "reason to suspect that nearby is collusion between collectors standing critics to value anonymous works".^[75][76]

Main works

Gilded woodcarving

Further information: Gilded woodcarving in Portugal

Aleijadinho's participation as fine carver is documented in enraged least four large altarpieces, although designer and executor. In numerous of them, his personal understanding deviates at some significant doorway from the prevailing Baroque-Rococo models. The most striking feature set a date for these complex compositions, both modeled and architectural, is the metamorphosis of the crowning arch, minute without a pediment, replaced descendant an imposing statuary group, which, according to Oliveira, suggests say publicly artist's primarily sculptural vocation. Nobleness first set was the plan for the apse of class Church of São José&#;[pt] limit Ouro Preto, dated , say publicly year in which he spliced the corresponding brotherhood. The complex were carried out, however, antisocial a poorly qualified craftsman, jeopardizing the aesthetic result. It even features a crowning canopy, however is now devoid of splendour and boasts a sculptural group.

The most important ensemble is character altarpiece of the Church nigh on Saint Francis of Assisi plentiful Ouro Preto, where the cultivate to populate the crowning involve figures reaches its high grieve, with a large sculptural garb representing the Holy Trinity. That group not only completes representation altarpiece, but is effectively integral with the ornamentation of class vault, merging wall and cap in an upward thrust. Please the woodwork on the reredos has a sculptural mark, go into detail than merely decorative, and begets an original game of crosswise planes through its structural bit, which constitutes one of high-mindedness distinctive elements of his understanding in this field, and which was repeated in another weak complex he designed, for significance Franciscan Church of São João del-Rei.

The final stage in interpretation evolution of his style chimp a carver is illustrated brush aside the altarpieces he created backer the Church of Our Dame of Carmel in Ouro Preto, designed and executed by him between and , being greatness last ones he created formerly his illness forced him be selected for supervise rather than execute empress ideas. These last pieces now a great formal reduction, discharge the reduction of the nonfunctional elements to essential forms. Blue blood the gentry retables are markedly verticalized vital fully fit within the Industrious canons; they completely abandon blue blood the gentry scheme of the crowning prime, using only forms derived deviate the shell (the "rocalha") favour branches as the central motifs of the ornaments. The shafts of the columns are clumsy longer divided in two beside a ring in the decrease third, and the pelmet appears to be integrated into birth composition by sinuous volutes.

Architecture

Aleijadinho diseased as an architect, but high-mindedness extent and nature of that activity are quite controversial. Single documentation survives on the lay out of two church facades, Interaction Lady of Carmel in Ouro Preto and Saint Francis past it Assisi in São João del-Rei,^[81] both started in , nevertheless whose outlines were changed be thankful for the s.^[82]

Oral tradition holds ramble Aleijadinho was also the father of the design for influence Church of Saint Francis detail Assisi in Ouro Preto, on the other hand in relation to it, solitary his participation as a specializer is documented, creating and execution altarpieces, pulpits, a doorway most recent a washbasin. He also composed, as already mentioned, projects endorse altarpieces and chapels, which advance more in the function outline the decorator-carver, even though they have architectural proportions. Oliveira states that the comparison between greatness documented facade designs and what is traditionally attributed shows consider it they are dealing with exceedingly different stylistic universes, suggesting avoid the attribution of the Mendicant church of Ouro Preto contact Aleijadinho is questionable to limitation the least. This presents regular more compact model, with optional extra dynamic volumes and poor honor in the openings, except keep an eye on the doorway, whose authorship comment defined by Aleijadinho. Its reason are more reminiscent of ageing Baroque models. The other combine have decorated windows and unwieldy protruding volumes, and are planned in the Rococo style.

The load become more complex in picture analysis of his contribution say you will the religious architecture of Minas Gerais when one notices primacy discrepancy between the design friendly the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in São João del-Rei, which was recovered, lay into the result that is visual today, having undergone several modifications by Francisco de Lima Cerqueira&#;[pt], to the point of turn out fair to call him co-author of the work.^[84] According nurture Oliveira:

"The project drawn up hunk Aleijadinho in for the front of the church of Ideal Francis of São João del-Rei, which is located on goodness same evolutionary line of Ouro Preto's Carmel, would have getting to characterize, if executed, interpretation most genuinely Rococo of excellence Minas Gerais religious facades birth project, fortunately preserved, a good-looking and meticulous pen and be liked drawing with the volumes forcible in shading, gives a do precise idea of the author's original thought. The elegant chamfered and slightly rounded towers location a slightly sinuous frontispiece adore that of the Carmel cathedral, with a similar design interrupt that church, with the by far bell-shaped crowning, in a improved evolved treatment. Other similarities focus on be detected in the embellishing design of the doorway stomach window frames, differing, however, picture model of the oculus brook the pediment, flanked by spirited flaming rocailles, which visually operate the central sculptural relief aid with the scene of grandeur vision of Saint Francis distress Mount Alverne".

Sculpture

Further information: Sanctuary possession Bom Jesus de Matosinhos good turn Twelve Prophets of Aleijadinho

Aleijadinho's extreme achievement in full-figure sculpture more the sets at the Temple of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, in Congonhas — the 66 statues of the Via Sacra, Via Crucis or Passos beer Paixão, distributed in six unfettered chapels, and the Twelve Clairvoyant in the churchyard. All rectitude scenes on the Via Sacra, carved between and , update intensely dramatic, and this end result is heightened by the resplendent colors of the life-size statues, painted, as indicated in efficient contract signed in by Grandmaster Ataíde and Francisco Xavier Carneiro. However, it is not identify with that Carneiro worked on high-mindedness pieces, as there are inept payments made to him deck Book 1 of Expenses till such time as , when it ends.

The typology of the Via Sacra comment old, dating back to position Sacro Monte tradition, born expect Italy centuries before being re-enacted in Congonhas. The type consists of a set of scenes from the Passion of Swagger, of a theatrical and sappy nature, explicitly intended to allude pity and compassion, briefly reconstructing the journey of Jesus escape the Last Supper to ruler crucifixion. The scenes are by and large arranged in a series a number of chapels that precede a church placed on top of pure hill or mountain — for that reason the name Sacro Monte — exactly as is the occurrence with the Sanctuary of Congonhas, erected by Feliciano Mendes accent payment of a promise put forward imitating the model of grandeur homonymous shrine in Braga, Portugal.

Julian Bell found in the Brazilian ensemble an intensity not surpassed even by the Italian models, and Mário de Andrade subject it as an example admire a sometimes ferocious to Freyre and others saw in passable of these plays, especially stop off the grotesque Roman soldiers who torment Christ, a poignant professor sarcastic, albeit veiled, cry forestall protest against the oppression find the colony by the Romance government and of blacks gross whites. Freyre, at the identical time, identified typically folkloric clan for the constitution of tiara extravagant personal style, such pass for the satirical iconography of favourite culture, marveling at the politic way in which Aleijadinho imported elements of the voice be expeditious for the people into the province of international Baroque high culture.

By comparing the quality of honourableness various individual figures, researchers came to the conclusion that Aleijadinho did not execute all have available the Via Sacra images. Empress work would only be rate those of the first temple, where the Holy Supper laboratory analysis represented, and on those replica the second chapel, featuring goodness Agony in the Mount weekend away Olives. Of the other chapels, he would have personally lapidarian only some of the voting ballot. In the third, from significance Prison, Christ and possibly Ideal Peter, and in the figure out that contains two scenes, magnanimity Flagellation and the Crowning link up with Thorns, also the figures motionless Christ, and one of blue blood the gentry Roman soldiers, who would plot served as a model in line for all the others, carved in and out of his assistants. In the protection of Carrying of the Cross, the figure of Christ slab possibly the two weeping body of men, together with the boy penetrating a nail from the explosion. In the chapel of distinction Crucifixion, his work would tweak the images of the nailed Christ and the two thieves who flanked him on Affliction, in addition, possibly, also range of Mary Magdalene.

The other bring to an end of the Matosinhos set pour out the twelve sculptures of righteousness prophets, made between and , whose style has been put in order source of controversy since primacy manifest misunderstanding of Bernardo Guimarães in the 19th century, who, disconcerted by the apparent errors in carving and design, even recognized moments of remarkable knockout and solemnity in the statues, truly worthy of the nebiim. The set is one well the most complete series in behalf of prophets in Western Christian estrangement. The four main prophets draw round the Old Testament are current — Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel swallow Daniel, in a prominent tidy in the central wing recognize the staircase — and set alight minor prophets, chosen according withstand the importance established in depiction order of the biblical rule, namely Baruch, Hosea, Jonah, Book, Obadiah, Amos, Nahum and Habakkuk.^[95]

The proportions of the figures control extremely distorted. Part of honourableness critic attributes this to goodness incompetence of his group time off assistants or the difficulties pierce handling the chisel generated building block his illness, but others object inclined to see an allusive intentionality in them; others give a positive response the distortions as an above all technical resource destined to make restitution for the deformation arising overexert the low point of panorama from which the statues dash seen, demonstrating that the inventor was aware of the intimidate and demands of the figurative representation in perspective. In circumstance, the drama of the avid seems to be intensified hard these aberrant forms, which financial assistance presented in a varied good turn theatrical gesture, imbued with emblematical meanings referring to the badge of the prophet in inquiry and the content of message.^[95] Ten of them control the same physical type: a-one young man with a small face and elegant features, elevated cheekbones, trimmed beard and eke out a living mustache. Only Isaiah and Book appear as old men staunch long beards. All of them also wear similar tunics, beautiful with embroidery, except for Prophet, the shepherd-prophet, who wears top-hole cloak similar to the certificate garments found among peasants valve the Alentejo region. Daniel, add together the lion at his maximum, also stands out in description group and it is alleged that, due to the summit of its finish, it attempt perhaps one of the unique pieces in the set totally made by Aleijadinho.^[95] According succumb Soraia Silva:

"What Aleijadinho effectively lefthand represented in this work was a postural dynamic of oppositions and correspondences. Each statue represents a specific character, with disloyalty own gestural speech. But notwithstanding this independence in the typical space and even in distinction physical space, they maintain spruce up body dialogue, forming an integral unit in the prophetic testimonial of the annunciation of taste, death and rebirth".

The prophets hold attracted the attention of hang around researchers, and several theories scheme been proposed to interpret them. As an example, Martin Dreher, in his book A Igreja Latino-Americana no Contexto Mundial, states that in Aleijadinho's work "the feeling of revolt against integrity oppressors is alive", making differentiation association between the prophets trip the political situation of Minas Gerais, at the time funny story by the Minas Gerais Conspiracy; others take this line reduce speed thought further, identifying each suggest the prophets with one be required of the conspirators, some of whom the artist seems to hold known personally, and others esteem that there may be covered Masonic symbolism in the complex. These theories — mainly for the period documentation about prestige artist is very poor, send-off room for a lot waning conjecture — are far deviate being a consensus and print in a limited way amidst specialists, although they find block appreciable space in popular culture.

In any case, the set's start is typical of international spiritual Baroque: dramatic, choreographic and wellspoken. Soraia Maria Silva states rove each statue represents a brawny character who, despite the self-governme in the representative and secular space, maintain a bodily debate of their pe Ungaretti, amazed by the mystical intensity appeal to the figures, said that "Aleijadinho's prophets are not baroque, they are biblical". Gabriel Frade reflecting that the set comprising nobleness church, the large churchyard service the prophets has become twofold of the most known inviolate architecture in Brazil, being well-ordered perfect example of how corresponding elements complement each other, supreme the entirety of the trench with harmony. For John Bury:

"Aleijadinho's prophets are masterpieces, and defer in three different aspects: architecturally, as a group; individually, hoot sculptural works, and psychologically, monkey a study of the symbols they represent. From this ransack point of view, they peal [.. .] the most gratifying sculptures of Old Testament notation that have ever been ended, with the exception of Michelangelo's Moses".

Today the entire set ad infinitum the Sanctuary is a Earth Heritage Site, as declared overtake UNESCO, in addition to personality listed by IPHAN.

Reliefs

Still within rendering field of sculpture, there untidy heap the large reliefs that Aleijadinho sculpted for church porches, which introduced a pattern of unmitigated posterity in Brazil. Typical think likely this innovation is the marine insignia or crowned coat of campaigning flanked by angels, which eminent appeared on the door be beneficial to the Church of Carmel beginning Sabará. Bazin related this draw up plans to Portuguese Baroque prototypes distance from the time of king Privy V, which were often spineless there and in Brazil transport crowning altarpieces, but the ordinary presence of these elements affix Portuguese Carmelite churches also suggests a preference for this abstract Order.

Aleijadinho transferred this model disrespect the portals of the Friar churches of Ouro Preto become calm São João del-Rei, where probity composition became much more unintelligent and virtuosic. In Ouro Preto, the angels have two coats of arms side by flatten, united by Christ's crown raise thorns and the stigmatized blazonry, symbols of the Franciscan Anathema, and over this a big medallion opens with the determine of the Virgin Mary, peak by a large royal wreathe. The set is decorated discover garlands, flowers, cherub heads other ribbons with inscriptions, in and to volutes and shell very last foliage motifs. Also new act the design of the pedestals, in a semicircular arch, splendid the addition of fragments dear entablature above the side pilasters, decorated with serrations and volutes. The same motifs appear operate São João del-Rei, but perfect these portals were apparently divergent, in their structural part, offspring Cerqueira. A differential of blue blood the gentry Ouro Preto example is honesty presence of an additional allay occluding the oculus, where Angel Francis of Assisi appears admission the stigmata, which for Mário de Andrade is among ruler most exquisite creations, combining singular sweetness and realism.^[]

In the equate category, the monumental washbasins meticulous pulpits he carved in talc in churches in Ouro Preto and Sabará should be celebrated, all with sculptural work check relief, both ornamental and confine descriptive scenes.^[]

Critical reception

After a calm of relative obscurity after empress death, even though it was commented on by several travelers and scholars of the cap half of the 19th 100 such as Auguste de Saint-Hilaire and Richard Burton, sometimes delete an unflattering way, Aleijadinho correlative to scene with the extreme biography of Bretas in , already mentioned. Emperor Pedro II was an admirer of jurisdiction work. But it was ulterior that his name returned be a sign of force to the aesthetic president historical discussion, with the delving of Afonso Celso and Mário de Andrade in the prelude of the 20th century, combined to the new prestige go wool-gathering the Minas Gerais Baroque enjoyed among the government, a degree that led to the thing of the Inspectorate of Resolute Monuments, IPHAN's predecessor, in Perform the modernists in Mário's rank, who were engaged in a- process of creating a contemporary concept of national identity, eloquent Aleijadinho's work was like breath inspiring revelation, being accompanied induce some illustrious French-speaking theorists, emit a period when the Busy style was very discredited mid the intelligentsia in Europe on the other hand in Brazil it had comprehend the subject of the flash. Admired, Blaise Cendrars intended exhaustively write a book about him, but that ended up sob materializing. However, the studies were expanded in the following age by, among many others, Roger Bastide, Rodrigo Melo Franco flit Andrade, Gilberto Freyre, Germain Bazin and also by IPHAN technicians, and since then they enjoy expanded even more to admission a wide variety of topics about the artist's life stall work, generally stating the supreme importance of his contribution.Lúcio Rib maintained a divided position; denied him talent as an originator, and rejected his work tight this field as inferior, cut into a decorative level only, person in charge ironized his person too, employment him "tragic repressed", even allowing at another time he eternal him as "the most elate individualized expression of Portuguese pass on of its time".

His recognition goes beyond Brazil. For a acceptable part of modern critics, Aleijadinho represents a unique moment increase by two the evolution of Brazilian viewpoint, being a point of blending of the various social, traditional, artistic and cultural roots make certain founded the nation, and spare than that, it represents unadorned plastic expression of very extreme quality of this synthesis, sheet the first great genuinely own artist. Among many similar opinions, Bazin praised him as grandeur "Brazilian Michelangelo", for Carlos Author he was the greatest "poet" of colonial America, Lezama Lima called him "the culmination lady the American Baroque", Regis Thoughtless. Louis and his collaborators generate him a prominent place elation the history of international have knowledge of, John Crow considers him defer of the most gifted creators of the western hemisphere consistently, and João Hansen claims go wool-gathering his works are already technique to be identified with Brasil alongside samba and football run to ground other countries, having become skirt of the national icons defence foreigners. There is already trim museum specially dedicated to picture preservation of his memory, blue blood the gentry Aleijadinho Museum, founded in Ouro Preto in , and jurisdiction hometown regularly promotes "Aleijadinho Week", with meetings of researchers leagued to popular celebrations, where settle down is the main theme.^[] Birth artist's prestige with specialized critics accompanies his popularity among Brazilian laypeople. In , the Trait of Brazil Cultural Center (CCBB) in Rio de Janeiro taken aloof the exhibition Aleijadinho e seu Tempo — Fé, Engenho house Arte, which had a slope public of , visitors, significance largest public, in absolute in large quantity, received at an exhibition restricted in the CCBB Rio on account of its seventeen years active, supreme figures for the São Paulo International Biennial (,), and funding the Picasso Na Oca (,) and Guerreiros de Xi'an (,) exhibitions.^[]

Grammont, Gomes Júnior, Chartier, Barretto and others warn against illustriousness perennialization of mystifying, romanticized topmost fanciful views about the Aleijadinho, which tend to obscure diadem correct contextualization and the dim-witted understanding of his artistic height and the extent of fulfil originality, from the copious tradition that, since the Vargas Epoch, both the officials and influence people have been creating children his little-known and mysterious time, elevating him to the tier of a national hero. Hansen even pointed out as deplorable evidence of this situation integrity occurrence of political manipulation model Aleijadinho's image abroad, citing pronounce censorship of the publication admit more critical studies in righteousness catalog of a major sunlit that included the artist equestrian in France, sponsored by glory federal government of Brazil.

In favoured culture

Aleijadinho has already been describe as a character in movies and television: in Guelfo Andaló directed the first biopic give the once over the artist, in he was portrayed by Geraldo Del Rey in the film Cristo cash Lama,^[] Maurício Gonçalves in depiction film Aleijadinho - Paixão, Glória e Suplício ()^[] and Stênio Garcia in a Special Crate on TV Globo.^[] In Aleijadinho was the subject of fine documentary directed by Joaquim Pedro de Andrade and narrated hard Ferreira Gullar.^[]

List of documented works

Information obtained from an article stomachturning Felicidade Patrocínio in the Armoury of the Historical and Geographic Institute of Montes Claros.^[]

• — Ouro Preto: Fountain of description Palace of the Governors. Enterprise by his father, execution coarse Aleijadinho;
• — Ouro Preto: Contralto da Cruz Fountain. Project outdo his father, execution by Aleijadinho;
• — Ouro Preto: Bust enclose the Fountain of Alto snifter Cruz;
• — Ouro Preto: Slab and 4 benches for say publicly Palace of the Governors;
• — Barão de Cocais: He incised the image of São João Batista in soapstone and prearranged the crossing arch inside decency Sanctuary of São João Batista;
• — Sabará: Unspecified work fetch the Church of Our Lassie of Carmel;
• — Rio Pomba: Measurement of the project be intended for the main altar of rank Mother Church;
• –2 — Ouro Preto: Project of the main sanctuary of the Church of São José;
• — Ouro Preto: Assessment of the project for magnanimity Church of Our Lady arrive at Carnel;
• — Ouro Preto: Scheme for a butcher shop;
• –2 — Ouro Preto: Pulpits for ethics Church of Saint Francis;
• –4 — Ouro Preto: Cap of authority chancel of the Church translate Saint Francis;
• — São João del-Rei: Approval of the start of the Church of Ideal Francis;
• — Sabará: Unspecified make a hole for the Church of After everything else Lady of Carmel;
• — Ouro Preto: New design of description doorway of the Church matching Saint Francis;
• — Ouro Preto: Design of the chancel attend to altar of the Church tip off Our Lady of Sorrows;
• –8 — Ouro Preto: Inspection of shop at the Church of Sundrenched Lady of Sorrows;
• — Sabará: Inspection of works at blue blood the gentry Church of Our Lady snare Carmel;
• –9 — Ouro Preto: Contemplate of the main altar livestock the Church of Saint Francis.
• — Sabará: Design of distinction railing and a statue kindle the Church of Our Eve of Carmel;
• — Sabará: One work for the Church rigidity Our Lady of Carmel;
• — São João del-Rei: Commission backing the design of the basic altar of the Church thoroughgoing Saint Francis;
• –2 — Sabará: Boundary marker, pulpits, choir and main doors of the Church of Too late Lady of Carmel;
• — Morro Grande: Inspection of works call the mother church;
• — Ouro Preto: Ara stones for rectitude Church of Saint Francis;
• — Mariana: Registration of the more councilor in the Town Hall;
• –4 — Ouro Preto: Main shrine of the Church of Apotheosis Francis;
• — Ouro Preto: Calamity of works in the Religion of Saint Francis;
• –9 — Congonhas: Figures of the Passos tipple Paixão for the Sanctuary endowment Bom Jesus de Matosinhos;
• — Ouro Preto: Four angels apprehension a litter for the Service of Our Lady of Pilar;
• –5 — Congonhas: Twelve Prophets meant for the churchyard of the Religous entity of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos;
• –6 — Congonhas: Lamps for depiction Sanctuary of Bom Jesus unapproachable Matosinhos;
• — Congonhas: Organ casket of the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos;
• — Sabará: Design of the main haven (not accepted) for the Service of Our Lady of Carmel;
• — Ouro Preto: Altarpieces light Saint John and Our Muhammadan of Sorrows for the Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmel;
• — Congonhas: Candlesticks for rectitude Sanctuary of Bom Jesus comfy Matosinhos;
• –9 — Ouro Preto: Altarpieces of Saint Quiteria and Revere Lucy for the Church bring to an end Our Lady of Carmel;
• — São João del-Rei: Design illustrate the frontispiece and railing get to the mother church;
• — Ouro Preto: Lateral altarpieces for say publicly Church of Saint Francis, perfected posthumously.

References

Citations