Portraits of History
The photographic memory of Piratini Palace in historical and contemporary records
Nelly Hardion, wife of the French ambassador, visiting the Piratini Palace (1955)Piratini Palace
Taken in one of the halls of the residential wing, a 1955 photograph documents the visit of Nelly Hardion, the French ambassador's wife, to Piratini Palace.
Image altered by artificial intelligence with panorama towards GuaíbaPiratini Palace
This image is modified with artificial intelligence to show the panorama facing the Guaíba, a much wider view without buildings. The city depicted here was still on its way to modern days.
A window view from the Piratini Palace (2024)Piratini Palace
The urban landscape and its changes
This 2024 photograph shows the striking difference in the local landscape.
Watch an episode of the Retratos da história (Portraits of history) series about this image!
PianoPiratini Palace
A German-sounding piano
One of the historical items that charms visitors, the Grotrian-Steinweg grand piano.
Visitor playing the Grotrian Steinweg grand pianoPiratini Palace
Bolder visitors to the palace sometimes show off their musical skills.
Little pianist plays for the first lady, Mrs. Fabíola Dornelles (1951)Piratini Palace
This is not a new development: in the 1951 picture, the little pianist plays for then First Lady Fabíola Dornelles, delighting the audience.
Watch an episode of the Retratos da história (Portraits of history) series about this image!
PianoPiratini Palace
Since 1932, the piano has been part of memorable occasions and celebrations at Piratini Palace.
Dance performance in the Hall of MirrorsPiratini Palace
Dancing in time
The image shows a dance presentation at the Hall of Mirrors.
Watch an episode of the Retratos da história (Portraits of history) series about this image!
Couple dancing the paso doblePiratini Palace
In the same space, the camera captures the passion of a couple dancing pasodoble, an inheritance from the local culture's Hispanic roots.
Students from Colégio Farroupilha visit the Piratini Palace in the 1950sPiratini Palace
Artist in (the) residence
In 1955, while Aldo Locatelli finished the last of his 23 murals in the palace, students from the Farroupilha school in Porto Alegre witnessed an unparalleled moment for local art history. The job had started in the early 1950s.
Students from Colégio Farroupilha visit the Piratini Palace todayPiratini Palace
A current record with a group from the same school celebrating the restoration of Locatelli's work as a symbol of preservation and as a link between the past and the future generations of visitors to Piratini Palace.
Watch an episode of the Retratos da história (Portraits of history) series about this image!
Curation: Mateus Gomes and Willian Caetano
Text: Willian Caetano
Research: Bruna Linhares, Patrícia Bicoski, and Willian Affonso
Researched images: Hipólito José da Costa Communications Museum collection
Photographs and videos: Alvaro Bonadiman, Mateus Gomes, and Piratini Palace team
Creation and direction: Mateus Gomes
Reference:
Rio Grande do Sul Department of Culture Archives
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