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The Church
Among the historic churches of the old Vila Rica, the Matriz do Pilar is one of the ones that most enchants visitors. The Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar, in Ouro Preto, had its original chapel built around 1705, adapted to become a parish church in 1710 and became the parish seat with the creation of Vila Rica.
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Interior of the Church - a virtual tour
Construction of the final building, designed by Pedro Gomes Chaves, began in 1730 and progressed in record time under the direction of João Fernandes de Oliveira. The interior decoration, with a strong predominance of gilding, is an immense feat of carpentry and joinery.
The nave was decorated between 1735 and 1737 by Antônio Francisco Pombal. The pulpits are supported by inclined atlantes. The carving of the chancel is considered the most important work of Francisco Xavier de Brito, who began the decoration in 1746. After Brito's death in 1751, the carving was completed by his partner, the carver Antônio Henriques Cardoso. The gilding was done in 1774 by Bernardo Pires da Silva, who also created the paintings of the Four Seasons on the lower walls. The paintings on the ceiling were done in 1768 by João de Carvalhais.
Page 105Sondar Collection of Missing Cultural Assets
September 2, 1973
In the early hours of September 2, 1973, one of the most significant crimes against Brazilian cultural heritage was committed at the Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar, in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais.
Page 106Sondar Collection of Missing Cultural Assets
Thieves broke into the Museum of Sacred Art, located in the basement of the baroque church, and stole 15 priceless pieces, a treasure that remains missing to this day.
Page 107Sondar Collection of Missing Cultural Assets
The theft, which is more than half a century old, is shrouded in mystery and controversy, with allegations of a flawed investigation and the suspicion of the involvement of influential figures, which would have hushed up the case during the period of the Military Dictatorship in Brazil.
Custody or Monstrance (18th Century)Sondar Collection of Missing Cultural Assets
Among the items taken, the most notable was a monumental gilded silver monstrance, weighing around seven kilos, and a set of gold-plated silver chalices.
Gilded silver urn (18th Century)Sondar Collection of Missing Cultural Assets
These pieces were of Portuguese origin and dated back to the 18th century, having been used in the sumptuous celebration of the Eucharistic Triumph in 1733, one of the most grandiose religious events in Colonial Brazil.
Cup (18th Century)Sondar Collection of Missing Cultural Assets
Despite the passage of time, the hope of recovering the lost heritage has not faded. The Public Ministry of Minas Gerais (MPMG), through the State Prosecutor's Office for the Defense of Cultural and Tourist Heritage and the Sondar Project, continues its efforts to locate the pieces.
Cup (18th Century)Sondar Collection of Missing Cultural Assets
The theft at the Church of Pilar is a painful reminder of the vulnerability of Brazil's historical heritage and the irreparable losses caused by the illegal trade in sacred art.
We express our sincere thanks to the experts and researchers whose collaboration was essential to the realization of this project.
In particular, we acknowledge:
Marcos Paulo de Souza Miranda, for his valuable contributions of content, suggestions for reports and indication of sources for the research of images and texts for this story.
Raphael Hallack, for the conception of the project "Sondar Collection of Missing Goods of Minas Gerais".
Rafael Rigoni, for the virtual tours of the Nossa Senhora do Pilar Church, created for the Ouro Preto Para Sempre Project. The tours were provided so that visitors to the collection could contemplate the richness of the art and architecture of the colonial period in Brazil.
References:
OLIVEIRA, Myriam Andrade Ribeiro de; CAMPOS, Adalgisa Arantes. Barroco e Rococó nas igrejas de Ouro Preto e Mariana. Brasília, DF: Iphan / Programa Monumenta, 2010.
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