Integration of the Life and Works of “O Aleijadinho” into Brazilian Culture Courses

Authors

Ryan T. Miller, Brigham Young University
Dr. Willis Fails, Brigham Young University

Keywords

O Aleijadinho, Antônio Francisco Lisboa, Portuguese, Brazilian culture

College

Humanities

Department

Spanish and Portuguese

Abstract

More commonly known as O Aleijadinho, Portuguese for “Little Cripple,” Antônio Francisco Lisboa is remembered as Brazil’s greatest artist of the colonial period. Born in 1730 to the son of a Portuguese craftsman and a black slave, Aleijadinho developed a degenerative condition—probably leprosy—that left him without the use of his hands. Aleijadinho’s suffering found a creative outlet in his work as a sculptor and architect. With a hammer and a chisel tucked under his arms, Aleijadinho designed churches and created highly expressive soapstone sculptures.

Recommended Citation

Miller, Ryan T. and Fails, Dr. Willis (2014) "Integration of the Life and Works of “O Aleijadinho” into Brazilian Culture Courses," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014: Iss. 1, Article 707.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/707