Tomás Antônio Gonzaga
Encyclopedia
Tomás Antônio Gonzaga was a Portuguese
poet
. One of the most famous Neoclassic
Brazilian writers, he was also the ouvidor and the ombudsman
of the city of Ouro Preto
(formerly "Vila Rica"), as well as the desembargador
of the appeal court in Bahia
. He wrote under the pen name Dirceu.
He is patron of the 37th chair of the Brazilian Academy of Letters
.
, Porto
, to Brazilian João Bernardo Gonzaga and Portuguese Tomásia Isabel Clark. As a child, the family moved to Recife
and to Bahia
, where João Bernardo served at the magistrature. Gonzaga was sent back to Portugal as a teenager, to the University of Coimbra, to finish his studies. With 24 years, he finished his Law course. He presented himself as a candidate for a chair at the University, with the thesis Tratado de Direito Natural.
He became the juiz-de-fora of the city of Beja
in 1778, until 1781. In the following year, he returned to Brazil, becoming the ouvidor of the city of Vila Rica (nowadays Ouro Preto
).
He followed this post until 1789, when he was accused of being involved with the Minas Conspiracy
. Arrested, he was sent to a prison in Ilha das Cobras
, Rio de Janeiro
. He spent three years in there, when he was given the sentence of an exile in the Island of Mozambique
. By that time, he was engaged to a woman named Maria Doroteia Joaquina de Seixas, possibly the "Marília" of his verses. This nostalgia of his love and his freedom can be seen in the second part of his poetry book Marília de Dirceu
.
Arriving at Mozambique, he was charitably received by a wealthy Portuguese gentleman. He then married his daughter, Juliana de Sousa Mascarenhas, having with her two children: Ana and Alexandre.
Gonzaga had a wealthy and happy life during his exile, becoming a lawyer. He died circa 1810.
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
poet
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
. One of the most famous Neoclassic
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...
Brazilian writers, he was also the ouvidor and the ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
of the city of 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....
(formerly "Vila Rica"), as well as the desembargador
Desembargador
Desembargador is the title of some appellate judges in Brazil. The Constitution of 1988 defines desembargadores as the judges of the Courts of Justice, which are appellate courts of the state court system...
of the appeal court in Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
. He wrote under the pen name Dirceu.
He is patron of the 37th chair of the Brazilian Academy of Letters
Academia Brasileira de Letras
Academia Brasileira de Letras is a Brazilian literary non-profit society established at the end of the 19th century by a group of 40 writers and poets inspired by the Académie Française. The first president, Machado de Assis, declared its foundation on December 15, 1896, with the statutes being...
.
Biography
Gonzaga was born in MiragaiaMiragaia (Porto)
Miragaia is a Portuguese parish of the municipality of Porto. It is 0.49 km² in area with 2,810 inhabitants as of 2001.Local landmarks include Santo António Hospital, the ancient city walls of Porto, built by Ferdinand I and several palaces and churches.- External links :*...
, Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, to Brazilian João Bernardo Gonzaga and Portuguese Tomásia Isabel Clark. As a child, the family moved to Recife
Recife
Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the 5th-largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. The population of the city proper...
and to Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
, where João Bernardo served at the magistrature. Gonzaga was sent back to Portugal as a teenager, to the University of Coimbra, to finish his studies. With 24 years, he finished his Law course. He presented himself as a candidate for a chair at the University, with the thesis Tratado de Direito Natural.
He became the juiz-de-fora of the city of Beja
Beja (Portugal)
Beja is a city in the Beja Municipality in the Alentejo region, Portugal. The municipality has a total area of 1,147.1 km² and a total population of 34,970 inhabitants. The city proper has a population of 21,658....
in 1778, until 1781. In the following year, he returned to Brazil, becoming the ouvidor of the city of Vila Rica (nowadays 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....
).
He followed this post until 1789, when he was accused of being involved with the Minas Conspiracy
Inconfidência Mineira
The Inconfidência Mineira of 1789 was an unsuccessful Brazilian independence movement.It was a result of the confluence of external and internal causes...
. Arrested, he was sent to a prison in Ilha das Cobras
Ilha das Cobras
Ilha das Cobras is an island located within Guanabara Bay in the city and state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil....
, 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...
. He spent three years in there, when he was given the sentence of an exile in the Island of Mozambique
Island of Mozambique
The Island of Mozambique lies off northern Mozambique, between the Mozambique Channel and Mossuril Bay. It has a population of around 14,000 people and is part of Nampula Province.-History:...
. By that time, he was engaged to a woman named Maria Doroteia Joaquina de Seixas, possibly the "Marília" of his verses. This nostalgia of his love and his freedom can be seen in the second part of his poetry book Marília de Dirceu
Marília de Dirceu
Marília de Dirceu is a poetry book written by Luso-Brazilian Neoclassic poet Tomás Antônio Gonzaga. It is divided in three parts — all of them published in different years...
.
Arriving at Mozambique, he was charitably received by a wealthy Portuguese gentleman. He then married his daughter, Juliana de Sousa Mascarenhas, having with her two children: Ana and Alexandre.
Gonzaga had a wealthy and happy life during his exile, becoming a lawyer. He died circa 1810.
Works
- Marília de DirceuMarília de DirceuMarília de Dirceu is a poetry book written by Luso-Brazilian Neoclassic poet Tomás Antônio Gonzaga. It is divided in three parts — all of them published in different years...
(poetry book — 1792) - Cartas ChilenasCartas ChilenasCartas Chilenas is an unfinished series of satirical poems whose authorship is attributed to Luso-Brazilian Neoclassic poet Tomás Antônio Gonzaga...
(discontinued series of satirical poems — 1863)
Representations in popular culture
- Gonzaga was portrayed in many Brazilian telenovelTelenovelTelenovel is an English-language translation of the following words:* Telenovela -- Latin-American serialised television dramas* Téléroman -- French-language serialised television dramas, particularly from Quebec...
s and films. He was portrayed by Gianfrancesco GuarnieriGianfrancesco GuarnieriGianfrancesco Sigfrido Benedetto Marinenghi de Guarnieri was a Brazilian actor and playwright.- External links :...
in telenovel Dez Vidas (1969); by Luiz Linhares in the film Os Inconfidentes (1972) and by Eduardo Galvão in the film Tiradentes (1999).
- In the 1984 children's book A Ladeira da Saudade, by Brazilian author Ganymédes José, Gonzaga's unrequited love by Maria Doroteia is explored on a more modern context.