The First Mass in Brazil (Victor Meirelles)

The First Mass in Brazil
Primeira Missa no Brasil
ArtistVictor Meirelles
Year1859-1861
MediumOil on canvas
MovementAcademicism
Dimensions270 cm × 357 cm (110 in × 141 in)
LocationMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes, Rio de Janeiro

The First Mass in Brazil (Portuguese: Primeira Missa no Brasil) is an oil painting of the historical genre by Brazilian painter Victor Meirelles. It is considered Meirelles' first major work. The painting was created between 1859 and 1861,[1] in Paris, during the period when the artist lived in Europe on a scholarship granted by the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts. Covering an area of 9 m2, The First Mass in Brazil was inspired by the letter written by Pero Vaz de Caminha to the king of Portugal describing the first mass held in the country.[2]

Meirelles' painting style is influenced by European aesthetic standards that sought to create heroic figures and exalt nature.[3] The aesthetic nature of the work is related to the moment of affirmation of the Brazilian State and the construction of the country's identity, also in the visual arts.[4]

The painting became one of the most popular and recognized artworks in the country[1] and, exhibited at the Official Salon of Paris in 1861, it was the first Brazilian artwork to participate in a relevant international exhibition. The work also granted Meirelles the title of Imperial Knight of the Order of the Rose and the position of honorary professor at the Academy of Fine Arts.[5]

  1. ^ a b Couto, Maria de Fátima Morethy (November 4, 2009). "Imagens eloqüentes: a primeira missa no Brasil". Artcultura. 10 (17). ISSN 2178-3845.
  2. ^ Christo, Maraliz de Castro Vieira (December 30, 2009). "A pintura de história no Brasil do século XIX: Panorama introdutório". Arbor. 185 (740): 1147–1168. doi:10.3989/arbor.2009.740n1082. ISSN 1988-303X.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ DECCA, EDGAR SALVADORI DE. "CIDADÃO, MOSTRE-ME A IDENTIDADE!" (PDF). Cad. Cedes. Unicamp. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).