A natureza-morta eloquente de Agostinho José da Motta: belas-artes e literatura no Segundo Reinado

Abstract

The Brazilian art of the 19th century was accused by some historians of not being committed with the specificity of the independent nation. I will show that painting, as the literature of the period, was largely influenced by travelers and authors of different Travel Writing on Brazil. Also still-life painting produced by artists like Agostinho da Motta was inspired by artists like Eckhout or Debret. Thus, I’ll shed light on the relationship between literature and painting in the 19th century Brazil, and on the role of the arts in the construction of a Brazilian Iconography as well.