Getting to know the Senate's artworks
Discover part of the collection on display at the Federal Senate Museum
Conhecendo as obras de arte do Senado (Março) by Ricardo Movits and Ricardo MovitsFederal Senate, Brazil
The Senate Museum has a collection of great historical value, made up of around 1,700 unique works by renowned Brazilian and foreign artists. There are paintings, panels, pictures, engravings, sculptures and tapestries of the most varied tendencies.
Among the many priceless works in the Senate Museum's collection is this bronze sculpture by José Guerra. Entitled "Child and Peace", the piece, donated to the Federal Senate in 1989, was awarded a prize by Unicef.
The bronze statue by Belgian Colinet, "The Sleep of Narcissus", acquired by the Senate in 1971, was inspired by "The Thinker", one of the most famous sculptures by French sculptor Auguste Rodin. Both pieces depict a man in a position of meditation.
Female figures have always been a favorite of Alfredo Ceschiatti, known as the main sculptor in the construction of Brasilia. "Naked Woman", from 1970, is just one of the works by the artist, who also made works for other public spaces and buildings in the capital.
Conhecendo as obras de arte do Senado (1869) by Autor desconhecido and Autor desconhecidoFederal Senate, Brazil
This Empire inkwell, ordered from Paris, stood on the head table of the Plenary. The two bells, with different ringtones, were used to draw parliamentarians' attention to the vote or to call for silence. The word Senado, written in the center, personalizes the piece.
Prudente de Moraes
Senator from 1890 to 1894, when he was elected as the third President of the Republic. The politician was the first civilian president and the first elected by popular vote in the country. Part of the Senate Museum's collection, his bust is by an unknown artist.
Dom Pedro II
Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was the second emperor of Brazil and the last before the Proclamation of the Republic. This bust, by Gilberto Mandarino, is one of the most appreciated by tourists visiting the National Congress.
Princess Isabel
Also by Gilberto Mandarino, this bust depicts the daughter of Dom Pedro II, Princess Isabel. An important figure in Brazilian history, it was she who signed the act that put an end to slavery in Brazil.
Conhecendo as obras de arte do Senado (Fevereiro) by Ricardo Movits and Ricardo MovitsFederal Senate, Brazil
Although he is best known for the architectural design of Brasilia, Oscar Niemeyer, together with his daughter Ana Maria, designed several pieces of leather furniture, spread across different areas of both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. This set of ottomans in the background is one of them.
Conhecendo as obras de arte do Senado (Fevereiro) by Ricardo Movits and Ricardo MovitsFederal Senate, Brazil
The Presidents' Gallery occupies almost the entire side wall of the Salão Nobre, where the Senate Museum is located. There are paintings of Senate presidents from the Empire to the present day.
Old Plenary ("Plenarinho")
These pieces of furniture were part of the old Senate Plenary at the Conde dos Arcos Palace and the Monroe Palace in Rio de Janeiro. Better known as the Plenarinho, the furniture was transferred to the current headquarters of the National Congress to be exhibited to the public.
The furniture in the old Senate Plenary, made from Jacaranda wood in 1867 by inmates of the Rio de Janeiro Penitentiary, was used by senators for almost 100 years.
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