Letter

CO-1698 Falcão, Ildefonso; Brasil. Consulado (Londres). [Carta] 1946 Aug. 12, Londres [para] Anglo-Brazilian Society; Thomas Cook, Londres. 2 p. [inglês][datilografado] My dear Chairman, Returning a few days ago from a visit to Paris, I was profoundly impressed by the enthusiasm of art critics in that city for the works of the greatest of living Brazilian Painters, Candido Portinari, to be exhibited at the famous Galerie Charpentier. Having followed the artistic career of this famous painter, honoured in all the American Continent, I for my part was little surprised since I well knew the extraordinary range of his talent. Even before the invitations to decorate one of the rooms of the Congress Library in Washington – a work considered wholly admirable – and to paint the frescos at The Ministry of Education in Rio de Janeiro, more than a thousand notable works had already carried his fame across the frontiers. More than a hundred new works to be exhibited at the Galerie Charpentier on the 27th September next prove once again that his artistic qualities are still developing and he is barely 42 years of age. I would further emphasis that this Gallery only exhibits the paintings of the great masters of Art in the world. As a member of the Council of the Anglo Brazilian Society so ably directed by yourself, I think that it is within the sphere of our activities to develop the cultural relations between Great Britain and Brazil. I would therefore request that this letter be read to the other members of this Council as a proposal that the Anglo Brazilian Society should approach the British Council in order to secure facilities for the works of this Brazilian Painter to be exhibited at The Royal Academy, The Tate or some other gallery with a standing equivalent to that of the Galerie Charpentier in Paris. This Society, which has one of its ends the dissipating of the ignorance of things Brazilian in Great Britain would gain further laurels if it succeeded in what I now propose, sure as I am that the Works of Portinari would raise in this country the same artistic enthusiasm as they have in Paris even before the public opening of the exhibition. I am, Sir, convinced of the cordial support which this proposition will receive from the other members of the council and, in the first place, of yourself and remain, Yours faithfully, Ildefonso Falcão Consul General 2