The art of this period reflects the complexity of Portuguese and Dutch colonial history.
1500–1815 C.E.
Beginner's Guide
What is colonial Brazil?
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Carlos Julião, “Black Kings and Queens”
Black kings and queens, accompanied by attendants and musicians, paraded through the streets during festivals in colonial Brazil.
Manoel da Costa Ataíde, ceiling painting of the Church of Saint Anthony, Santa Bárbara
Painted by Ataíde and his workshop, the Church of Saint Anthony, Santa Bárbara is filled with whimsical rococo ornament.
Carlos Julião, watercolor manuscript
Hindu religion, Brazilian customs, and Andean artworks as seen through the eyes of a European colonizer.
Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of the Blacks, Ouro Preto, Brazil
The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of the Blacks in Ouro Preto is among the most famous of Black brotherhood churches founded in Brazil
Introduction to colonial Brazil
An introduction to the incredibly diverse art and architecture of colonial Brazil.
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos of Congonhas do Campo, 1757–1872
A site of miraculous healing, the sanctuary in Congonhas has been filled with the prayers of pilgrims since the 18th century.
Mestre Valentim, Passeio Público, Rio de Janeiro
The first public park in Brazil and a major urban planning commission awarded to an artist of African descent.
Albert Eckhout, Series of eight figures
A short-lived Dutch colony produced art that sought to serve science but instead served racism.
Church of São Francisco de Assis, Ouro Preto, Brazil
Ouro Preto was a remote yet cosmopolitan town where gold supported both artists and architects.
