The beginning of colonization with "The arrival of Silva Paes"

Discover in the details of the work the representation thought up in the 50s, about the foundation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, through the painting by Aldo Locatelli

Silva Paes's arrival (1953) by Aldo LocatelliPiratini Palace

The Lusitanian feats!

Representing the foundational milestone of Rio Grande, Silva Paes' arrival represents the historiographic vision of the period it portrays. The supremacy of the Lusitanian matrix to the detriment of the Platina. 

In a pioneer pose, with one leg in front of the other, Silva Paes was portrayed as the founder of Portuguese territory outside Europe. The one who came to expand the domains of the Portuguese crown. 

And the color wizard put away his palette

The soldiers around him were portrayed in effusive welcome. In this particular work, the artist, known for his excellence in the use of color, chose to work with the chiaroscuro technique to create the sense of mobility that the mural conveys.

Were they Lusitanian gods?

On the left side, below, the figure of the indigenous man. Seated, observing the scene. Almost "placed" in the painting. He doesn't participate. He is larger than the others and his shadow projects itself outside the mural. 

The figure of the indigenous person, alienated from the other characters that make up the mural, reflects the way in which the Platina culture, which perceived the indigenous influence in the formation of Rio Grande, was seen by the Lusitanian matrix. 

Credits: Story

Piratini Palace - Center for Conservation and Memory of the Piratini Palace 
Texts: William Caetano 
Photography: Fernando Bueno - Piratini Palace Collection 
Editing: Mateus Gomes; Willian Caetano 
Technical reference: OLIVEIRA, Luciana da Costa. O Rio Grande do Sul de Aldo Locatelli : arte, historiografia e memória regional nos murais do Palácio Piratini. 2011. 270 f. Dissertação  (Mestrado em História) - Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, 2011.
 Directed by: Mateus Gomes

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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