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Saint Francis of Assisi

Candido Portinari1944

Projeto Portinari

Projeto Portinari
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Composition in blue and white. Lines defining contours, sinuous and shaded areas. It depicts several steps os Saint Francis of Assisi's life. The composition follows the shape of the facade of the church, which is made up of four arches: two on the left, small; a larger, center and on the right; and two the size of the first one on the right. The entire background of the composition is divided by diagonal lines forming squares that suggest a network, and on each square we see or a bird or a fish. Even against the background, sinuous lines traverse the entire area of ​​the composition by defining the boundaries of colored areas that make up the background. The figures and the animals are distinguished by being well-defined with marked contour lines. In the first arc, Saint Francis is standing in profile to the right. With arms stretched, he seems to be talking to the dark birds outlined around him. Between the first and second arcs, kneeling figure profile to the left with hands on the floor. In the larger arc, we see on the left, diagonal to on the right, bottom to top, three figures. The first one is turned 3/4 toward to the right, as if running, wearing a long flowing tunic, with arms stretched to the sides and wide apart legs, suggesting to be taking a big step. Further up, another figure, 3/4 turned to the left, wearing long tunic with tail behind, arms also stretched to the side and slightly apart legs. Further to the right and up, part of a building with flat roof suggesting tiles, with window through which one sees a child's half-bust, 3/4 facing left, also with open stretched arms. Also in the larger arc underneath the center, wolf lying in profile to the right, head forward with Saint Francis, standing in profile to the left. The saint seems to look toward the arms that are folded (the right one is forward). In the fourth arc, Saint Francis sitting in profile to the left, with folded arms and hands toward three birds that are on the floor, lined up side by side. A little further back, wide tree trunk and small pantry.

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  • Title: Saint Francis of Assisi
  • Creator Lifespan: 1903-12-29 - 1962-12-06
  • Creator Nationality: Brazilian
  • Creator Gender: Male
  • Creator Death Place: Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Creator Birth Place: Brodowski, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Date: 1944
  • Location Created: São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
  • Provenance: João Candido Portinari
  • Rights: João Candido Portinari
  • External Link: Projeto Portinari
  • Theme: Nature:Animals:wolf, Nature:Animals:bird, Nature:Animals:fish, religious:religious scenes:the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, religious:Saints:Saint Francis of Assisi, human figure:child:boy, human figure:figure, human figure:man
  • Technique: tiles
  • Signature: Unsigned
  • Painter: Candido Portinari
  • Number: FCO 2474
  • Notes: Work’s irregular form accompanies the line of the church’s rear façade, its top presenting four arches.
  • Inscription: Dated in inscription in bottom right corner "C.PORTINARI COMPOZ E DETALHOV EXECVTADO NO ATELIER OSIRARTE DE SÃO PAVLO POR P.C.ROSSI OSIR M.ZANINI E.L.GERMEK MATERIAL E COZIMENTO DE I.R.F.MATARAZZO MCMXLIV”
  • Function: Work executed for the back wall of the Pampulha Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Belo Horizonte, MG. Work designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer.
  • Catalogue Raisonné: CR-2167
Projeto Portinari

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