$1.5 million painting and 17th century grandfather clock among items destroyed by Brazilian insurrectionists in January 6th-style invasion of Supreme Court, Congress and presidential palace buildings
- As Mulatas, an oil on canvass painting valued at $1.5 million, was damaged by rioters at the Planalto Presidential Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, on Sunday
- Supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro destroyed Balthazar Martinot’s 17th century grandfather clock that was donated by French king Louis XIV
- At least 1,200 rioters had been arrested as of Monday night by police
A $1.5 million canvas painting and a 17th century French grandfather were damaged by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro during the invasion of three government buildings Sunday in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia.
Thousands rioters stormed the buildings designed by famed architect Oscar Niemeyer in an event that strikingly resembled the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s office was not attacked.
Shockingly enough, the takeover came while Bolsonaro was enjoying a post-presidential getaway in Florida, the home of his ally and friend, former United States President Donald Trump.
At least 1,200 followers of the far-right leader have been arrested as of Monday night.
The As Mulatas oil on canvass is considered one of the most important pieces produced by Brazilian modernist painter Emiliano Di Calvacanti and was punctured seven times by rioters who invaded the Planalto Presidential Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, on Sunday
Damage was done to one of several paintings that were on display at the Brazilian National Congress. Authorities had arrested 1,200 protesters as of Monday night
Senator Rogério Carvalho, who is also in charge of curating the Planalto Presidential Palace, found it was impossible to place a monetary value on the overall damage to the three trashed buildings which in 1987 were recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage Site.
‘The value of what was destroyed is incalculable because of the history it represents,’ Carvalho said, as quoted by BBC Brazil.
The Senator and the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute set up a task force to analyze the destruction and determine which works could be saved
‘The collection is a representation of all the presidents who represented the Brazilian people during this long period that begins with JK (Juscelino Kubitschek). This is its historical value,” Carvalho said.
Workers clear debris caused by radical supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro after Sunday’s riot at the Planalto Presidential Palace
A task force has been set up to analyze which works of art can be fixed, including the As Mulatas oil on canvas painting
Employees specializing in the conservation of works of art sit near a painting by the painter Emiliano Di Cavalcanti that was destroyed by radical supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro following a riot the previous day at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil
The As Mulatas oil on canvass painting is considered one of the most important pieces produced by Brazilian modernist painter Emiliano Di Calvacanti and was punctured seven times.
Elizabeth Di Cavalcanti told newspaper O Globo that her father’s 1962 painting, like many of his works, was never named by him.
She said the painting may have been commissioned by a defunct government-run shipping company to accessorize one of its ships before it ended up at the Chamber of Deputies building, where it was displayed in the third floor.
The 17th century grandfather clock that was gifted by French king Louis XIV to Portuguese king Dom João VI is only one of two that exist in the world. The timepiece was made by French watchmaker Balthazar Marthinot, but was destroyed by rioters on Sunday
French watchmaker Balthazar Martinot’s 17th century grandfather clock was completely destroyed by the invaders and beyond repair, according to the authorities.
The timepiece was gifted by French king Louis XIV to Portuguese king Dom João VI, who ruled Brazil and Portugal, and is only one of two that exist in the world.
The other one is currently exhibited at Palace of Versailles in France and is said to be half the size of the one that was displayed in the third floor of the Chamber of Deputies.
A wooden sculpture made by Holocaust survivor Frans Krajcber was broken in several parts the Planalto Presidential Palace
Holocaust survivor Frans Krajcber had a wooden sculpture was broken in several parts the Planalto Presidential Palace.
Some of the pieces of the $57,000 art work ripped off from a wall and thrown away by rioters, according to the government.
Krajcberg was born Poland but moved to Brazil after World War Two. His family was killed at a concentration camp.
Bruno Giorgi’s ‘O Flautista’ 1962 sculpture was totally destroyed during Sunday’s attack
Bruno Giorgi’s ‘O Flautista’ (Pied Piper) was destroyed and found scattered across Congress.
The 1962 bronze sculpture, valued at $48,000, was located in the same area where the As Mulatas painting was on display.
Alfredo Ceschiatti’s 1961 ‘A Justica’, the granite statue of a woman blindfolded and holding a sword that was set outside the Supreme Court, was vandalized by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro
The rioters also wrote graffiti on Alfredo Ceschiatti’s 1961 ‘A Justica’ granite statue that was placed outside the Supreme Court.
The three-meter high sculpture, which depicts Themis, the justice goddess, with a blindfold and a sword, had the Portuguese phrase, ‘Perdeu, mane’ (You lost, fool).
Source: Read Full Article
