From the Books: Ex-libris in MNBA Collections

Ex-libris (1945) by Quirino CampofioritoMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

My Books

My books (that do not know I exist)
They are a part of me, like this face
From temples and eyes already gray
That in vain I go seeking in the mirrors
And over which I run my concave hand.
Not without a natural bitterness
I understand that the essential words,
Those that express me, will be in those leaves
Who do not know who I am, nor what I write.
It's just as well. The voices of these dead
will forever speak to me.

Jorge Luis Borges, in "La Rosa Profunda"

Ex-libris (1952) by Leo Gonçalves DamasioMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

With the aim of revealing the diversity of owner's markers contained in the books of the MNBA's bibliographic collections to the public, the Library highlights a small, selected sample of the Ex-libris (bookplates) in our collection.

Ex-libris (1964) by Quirino CampofioritoMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

The Ex-libris lies in the personalization of the book and in the aesthetic enjoyment, providing an original print, produced manually with old and traditional engraving techniques.

Ex Libris livro aberto (1957) by Quirino CampofioritoMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

Ex-librisis a Latin expression that means "from the books of" or "is part of my books" and was used to determine the ownership of a book. It can be in the form of cardboard, labels, or small stencils, usually glued on the front or back cover of a book.

Ex-libris (1957) by Quirino CampofioritoMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

Ex-Libris Quirino Campofiorito

In the collection of the MNBA Library, we highlight the ex-libris of the artist and art critic, Quirino Campofiorito, which consists of a paper label painted by himself which identifies the books donated by him. There are several of his ex-libris templates. It is a true work of art.

Ex-libris, Quirino Campofiorito, 1990, From the collection of: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
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There are versions of the same ex-libris, varying only in color.

Ex-libris, Quirino Campofiorito, 1990, From the collection of: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
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Ex-libris, Quirino Campofiorito, 1945, From the collection of: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
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Ex-libris, Quirino Campofiorito, 1958, From the collection of: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
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Ex-libris, Quirino Campofiorito, 1947, From the collection of: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
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Ex-libris, Quirino Campofiorito, 1957, From the collection of: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
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Ex-libris, Quirino Campofiorito, 1955, From the collection of: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
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Ex-libris, Quirino Campofiorito, 1945, From the collection of: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
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Ex-libris, Quirino Campofiorito, 1955, From the collection of: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
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Auto retrato by Alfredo GalvãoMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

Alfredo Galvão (1900-1987)
Painter, teacher, and historian, Alfredo Galvão (1900–87) studied at the National School of Fine Arts (ENBA), first as a free student, from 1916 through 1919, then as a regular student, from 1920 through 1927, having been a pupil of Masters such as Rodolpho Amoêdo, Baptista da Costa, Lucilio de Albuquerque, and Rodolpho Chambelland. He was also director of the School and the National Museum of Fine Arts, and a dedicated researcher of academic art education in Brazil, most especially in Rio de Janeiro.

Ex-libris (1907) by Alfredo GalvãoMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

Ex-libris by Alfredo Galvão.
The National Museum of Fine Arts

Inspired by Michelangelo's sculpture "Aurora" (Dawn), an integral part of the funeral monuments of Lorenzo and Giuliano de Medici, "Allegories of Time" (Twilight, Day, Dawn, and Night) in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy. The set of sculptures represents the phases of life: Dawn for youth, Twilight for old age, Day for our life on earth, and Night for death.

Aurora by Autor desconhecidoMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

"Aurora"
The National Museum of Fine Arts has a plaster sketch of unknown authorship of this sculpture by Michelangelo.

The "Aurora" appears sprawled on the volute of the sarcophagus, resting on her right forearm, but suffused with a sensual languor that makes her sigh and distend her limbs as if sliding.

Ex-libris (2003) by Marcelo FrazãoMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

Ex-libris by the artist Marcelo Frazão

Made for his library and for the books of the atelier, Villa Olivia. Composed of three symbols, the main one is the basilisk, a mythical animal that turns anyone who looks at it into stone.

Detail of the second image representing a cross.

The third almost imperceptible image is a triangle, representing Protection and Strength.

Primeira Exposição Brasileira de Ex Libris (1942) by Autor desconhecidoMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

In 1940, the "Society of Brazilian Lovers of Ex libris" (SABEL) was created. In 1942, the 1st Brazilian Ex-libris Exhibition was organized at the National Museum of Fine Arts, under the chairmanship of director Oswaldo Teixeira.

Primeira Exposição Brasileira de Ex Libris (1942) by Autor desconhecidoMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

Primeira Exposição Brasileira de Ex Libris (1942) by Autor desconhecidoMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

Cover of the catalog of the 1st Brazilian Ex-Libris Exhibition at the National Museum of Fine Arts in May, 1942.

Primeira Exposição Brasileira de Ex Libris, Autor desconhecido, 1942, From the collection of: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
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Primeira Exposição Brasileira de Ex Libris, Autor desconhecido, 1942, From the collection of: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
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Primeira Exposição Brasileira de Ex Libris, Autor desconhecido, 1942, From the collection of: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
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Primeira Exposição Brasileira de Ex Libris, Autor desconhecido, 1942, From the collection of: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
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Primeira Exposição Brasileira de Ex Libris (1942) by Autor desconhecidoMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

Ex-libris by Nuno Smith de Vasconcelos
One of the ex-libris items of the 1st Ex-Libris Exhibition at the MNBA was the image of the Victory of Samothrace, inspired by the goddess Nike, who exalts shipwrecked and naval combatants. Drawing by Henrique Cavalleiro.

Vitória de Samotrácia (1816/1910) by Autor DesconhecidoMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

One of the most famous pieces of the Louvre Museum is the "Winged Victory of Samothrace." This sculpture, by an unknown author, was made in the Hellenistic period and found in 1863.

The National Museum of Fine Arts has a cast in plaster donated in 1929 by the French government, which served as inspiration for the Ex-libris of Nuno Smith de Vasconcelos.

Victory of Samothrace (1919) by Eliseu ViscontiMuseu Nacional de Belas Artes

Painting of the Victory of Samothrace by Eliseu Visconti

Credits: Story

Dos livros: Ex-libris nas coleções do MNBA

Curadoria - Mary Komatsu Shinkado

Fotografia - Eliana Andressa Martins Gomes

Idealizado especialmente para o Google Art Project, 2017

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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