Baroque in Brazil
Encyclopedia
The baroque in Brazil was introduced at the beginning of the seventeenth century by Catholic missionaries, especially Jesuits, who brought the new style as an instrument of Christian indoctrination. The epic poem Prosopopéia (1601), by Bento Teixeira
, is one of its initial milestones. The baroque reached its apogee in literature with the poet Gregorio de Matos and the holy orator Father Antonio Vieira
. The greatest artists of the era were Aleijadinho
in sculpture and Master Ataíde
in painting. Baroque architecture flourished remarkably in the Northeast; important examples also exist in the center of the country, in Minas Gerais
, Goiás
, and Rio de Janeiro
. In music, unlike the other arts, few documents survive, and only from the late baroque. With the development of neoclassicism
starting in the first decades of the nineteenth century, the Baroque tradition, which had a history of massive strength in Brazil and was considered the national style of excellence, gradually fell into disuse, but traces of it were found in various forms of art until the early years of the twentieth century.
Bento Teixeira
Bento Teixeira was a Portuguese poet. He is considered to be the introducer of Baroque in Brazil and the first Brazilian poet — however, this last affirmation is contested by many historians.-Life:...
, is one of its initial milestones. The baroque reached its apogee in literature with the poet Gregorio de Matos and the holy orator Father Antonio Vieira
António Vieira
Father António Vieira was a Portuguese Jesuit and writer, the "prince" of Catholic pulpit-orators of his time.-Life:Vieira was born in Lisbon to Cristóvão Vieira Ravasco, the son of a mulatto woman, and Maria de Azevedo. Accompanying his parents to Brazil in 1614, he received his education at the...
. The greatest artists of the era were Aleijadinho
Aleijadinho
Aleijadinho was a Colonial Brazil-born sculptor and architect, noted for his works on and in various churches of Brazil....
in sculpture and Master Ataíde
Manuel da Costa Ataíde
Manuel da Costa Ataíde , was a Brazilian painter, decorator, teacher and woodcarver. He is the greatest name of Brazilian Baroque painting...
in painting. Baroque architecture flourished remarkably in the Northeast; important examples also exist in the center of the country, in Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
, Goiás
Goiás
Goiás is a state of Brazil, located in the central part of the country. The name Goiás comes from the name of an indigenous community...
, and Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. In music, unlike the other arts, few documents survive, and only from the late baroque. With the development of neoclassicism
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
starting in the first decades of the nineteenth century, the Baroque tradition, which had a history of massive strength in Brazil and was considered the national style of excellence, gradually fell into disuse, but traces of it were found in various forms of art until the early years of the twentieth century.