Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (Ouro Preto)
Encyclopedia
The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi is a Rococo
Catholic
church in Ouro Preto
, Brazil
.
Its erection began in 1766 after a design by the great Brazil
ian architect
and sculptor Antônio Francisco Lisboa, the so-called Aleijadinho
, who also designed the carved decorations inside, which were only finished towards the end of the 19th century. The circular bell tower
s and the oculus
closed by a relief
were original features in religious architecture of that time in Brazil.
The façade has a single entrance door under a fine stone frontispiece
, surmounted by a relief depicting Saint Francis receiving the stigmata
.
The interior is richly decorated with golden woodwork, statues and paintings, and the wooden ceiling displays a beautiful painting
by Manuel da Costa Ataíde
on a Marian subject, one of his best works.
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
church in Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto
-History:Founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro Preto was originally called Vila Rica, or "rich village," the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil's golden age in the 18th century under Portuguese rule....
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Its erection began in 1766 after a design by the great Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and sculptor Antônio Francisco Lisboa, the so-called Aleijadinho
Aleijadinho
Aleijadinho was a Colonial Brazil-born sculptor and architect, noted for his works on and in various churches of Brazil....
, who also designed the carved decorations inside, which were only finished towards the end of the 19th century. The circular bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
s and the oculus
Oculus
An Oculus, circular window, or rain-hole is a feature of Classical architecture since the 16th century. They are often denoted by their French name, oeil de boeuf, or "bull's-eye". Such circular or oval windows express the presence of a mezzanine on a building's façade without competing for...
closed by a relief
Relief
Relief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane...
were original features in religious architecture of that time in Brazil.
The façade has a single entrance door under a fine stone frontispiece
Frontispiece (architecture)
In architecture, a frontispiece is the combination of elements that frame and decorate the main, or front, door to a building. The term is especially used when the main entrance is the chief face of the building rather than being kept behind columns or a portico. Early German churches often...
, surmounted by a relief depicting Saint Francis receiving the stigmata
Stigmata
Stigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, such as the hands and feet...
.
The interior is richly decorated with golden woodwork, statues and paintings, and the wooden ceiling displays a beautiful painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
by Manuel da Costa 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...
on a Marian subject, one of his best works.