‘The fasting of His Reverence!’

In the context of the controversial ‘religious question’ that characterised the 19th century, Bordalo examines the lack of moderation of men of the Church during Lent, a period of penitence where fasting and abstinence have a fundamental place. With a profoundly critical tone, the artist represents the canon José Gonçalves Ferreira sitting at a heavily-laden table, on which we can identify suckling pig, a roast fowl, with wine to accompany the meal and, also, an amusing toothpick holder in the form of a Jesuit. Other delicacies are about to arrive on large platters. A character typical of Bordalo’s humour, the Brazilian canon is caricatured in the masthead of this publication, also designed by the artist. Print published in O Mosquito, on 8 April 1876.