Artworks damaged, destroyed or stolen during the 2023 Brazilian Congress attack explained

During the 2023 Brazilian Congress attack, numerous works of art were targeted by supporters of Brazilian former president Jair Bolsonaro.[1] [2]

Background

See main article: articles and Brasília.

Brasília, the federal capital of Brazil, is a planned city and its architecture is considered unique in the world. The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and is divided into numbered blocks as well as sectors for specified activities, such as the hotel sector, the banking sector, and the embassy sector.[3] Since it is the seat of government of Brazil, Brasília houses several diplomatic gifts and artworks that are displayed in international and Brazilian art exhibitions, including in the Cultural Complex of the Republic. Government buildings in Brasília are not only themselves works of art due to their modernist architecture, but they also serve as museums, libraries and theaters to officials and the general population who come to the city seeking government services and as visitors.[4]

Artworks

Many artworks were torn apart, shredded, broken, graffitied or simply stolen by the attackers in the assault. Early reports estimate that BRL 9 million (nearly USD 1.7 million) in works of art alone (government buildings not included) were lost in the attack.[5] The following artworks were damaged, destroyed or stolen by the perpetrators:

Works affected by the 2023 Brasília attacks! Work name! Work type! Status! Artist! Creation date! Brazil acquisition date! Notes
Relógio da Corte de Luiz XIV (clock from the court of French King Louis XIV)ClockDamagedAndré Charles Boulle (Designer) & Balthazar Martinot (Maker)ca. 17th century[6]
Bola de futebol assinada por Neymar (soccer ball signed by Neymar)Soccer ballStolen but later recoveredUnknown[7]
Vaso Húngaro (Hungarian porcelain vase)VaseDestroyedVausa Val2008[8]
Vaso da Dinastia Shang (Shang dynasty vase) VaseDestroyedUnknownca. 1,600 BCE[9]
Ato de assinatura do Projeto da 1ª Constituição (The Act of signature of the Brazilian draft 1st Constitution)PaintingDamagedGustavo Hastoy1890[10]
Mobília do antigo Palácio Monroe (Furniture from the former Brazilian Senate building Monroe Palace)Desks, chairDamagedUnknownca. 19th century[11]
Tinteiro do Império do Brasil (Inkwell from the Empire of Brazil)InkwellDamagedUnknown
A Bailarina (The Ballerina)Bronze sculptureStolen but later recoveredVictor Brecheret1920
Pérola e Concha (Pearl and Shell)Gold SculptureStolenUnknown
Ovo de Avestruz (Ostrich Egg)SculptureDestroyedUnknown
As Mulatas (The Mulatto Women)Painting DamagedDi Cavalcanti1962
AraguaiaStained glass panel DestroyedMarianne Peretti1977
Juscelino Kubitschek's work deskDeskDamagedOscar Niemeyer and Anna Maria Niemeyerca. 1960ca. 1960
A Justiça (The Justice)Granite sculptureDamagedAlfredo Ceschiatti1961
O Flautista (The Flautist)Bronze sculptureDestroyedBruno Giorgi1962
The Supreme Court Presidential chairChairDamagedJorge Zalszupin
Galhos e Sombras (Sticks and Shadows) Wooden sculptureDestroyedFrans Krajcberg[12]
Muro Escultório (Sculptural Wall)Wooden panelDamagedAthos Bulcão
Maria, MariaBronze sculptureDamagedSônia Ebling1980
Bandeira do Brasil (The Brazilian Flag)PaintingDamagedJorge Eduardo Alves de Souza
Vênus Apocalíptica (Apocalyptic Venus)Plaster Sculpture DamagedMarta Minujín
Retrato de José Bonifácio (Portrait of José Bonifácio)Painting DamagedOscar Pereira da Silva1922
Retrato de Guido Mondin (Portrait of Guido Mondin)PaintingDamagedUnknown
Brasão da República (The Brazilian Coat of Arms)Coat of ArmsDamagedUnknown[13]
Tapestry previously owned by Princess Isabel of BrazilTapestryDamaged Unknown[14]
Tapestry made by Burle MarxTapestryDamagedRoberto Burle Marx
Tapete Persa (Persian Carpet)CarpetDamagedUnknown
Bust of Ruy BarbosaBustDestroyed Unknown
Bust of Joaquim NabucoDestroyedUnknown
Rare copy of the Brazilian Constitution of 1988Book Stolen but later recoveredUnknown[15]

Aftermath

After the perpetrators left the buildings, Brazilian Culture Minister Margareth Menezes announced that UNESCO had offered its expert team to help repair restorable artworks. Additionally she asked the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (Iphan) conservationists and restorers to also help repair the works of art.[16]

On February 19, 2023, Switzerland offered to help Brazil restore the French 17th century clock (made by Balthazar Martinot and targeted by a Bolsonaro supporter during the attacks) in a partnership with Swiss watchmaker company Audemars Piguet, which was accepted by the Brazilian Culture ministry.[17]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 2023-01-09 . Brazil protests: Artwork suffers damage beyond repair . BBC News . 2023-01-09.
  2. Web site: Bolsonaristas destroem patrimônio histórico, obras de arte e gabinetes de autoridades . 2023-01-09 . O Globo . pt-br.
  3. Web site: World Heritage List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130119104733/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/445 . 19 January 2013 . 6 February 2013 . Unesco.
  4. Web site: Ibarra . Pedro . 2021-10-27 . História artística de Brasília entra em exibição no Museu Nacional da República . 2023-01-09 . Diversão e Arte . pt-BR.
    • Web site: Teatro Nacional Claudio Santoro . 2023-01-09 . Secretaria de Cultura e Economia Criativa . pt-BR . 2023-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109235043/https://www.cultura.df.gov.br/teatro-nacional-claudio-santoro/ . dead .
  5. News: As obras de arte vandalizadas nas invasões em Brasília . pt-BR . BBC News Brasil . 2023-01-21.
  6. Web site: De relógio doado por corte de Luís XIV a tela de Di Cavalcanti, veja lista com obras de arte danificadas em Brasília . 2023-01-09 . O Globo . pt-br.
  7. Web site: Bola autografada por Neymar furtada em ataque terrorista em Brasília é encontrada em Sorocaba, diz polícia . 2023-02-01 . G1 . pt-br.
  8. Web site: Pérola do Catar e bola autografada por Neymar foram levadas durante invasão da Câmara – Notícias . 2023-02-01 . Portal da Câmara dos Deputados . pt-br.
  9. News: Moratelli . Valmir . A mais antiga obra de arte destruída por bolsonaristas terroristas . 19 January 2023 . Veja . 2023-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230119150520/https://veja.abril.com.br/coluna/veja-gente/a-mais-antiga-obra-de-arte-destruida-por-bolsonaristas-terroristas/ . 2023-01-19 . São Paulo . pt-br.
  10. Web site: Reparo de obras de arte pode chegar a R$ 1 milhão, diz equipe do Museu do Senado . 2023-01-14 . Senado Federal . pt-br.
  11. Web site: Museu traça plano de restauração e reposição de peças atingidas na invasão . 2023-01-14 . Senado Federal . pt-br.
  12. News: As obras de arte vandalizadas nas invasões em Brasília . pt-BR . BBC News Brasil . 2023-01-09.
  13. Web site: Martins . Lorena K. . 2023-01-08 . De obra de Di Cavalcanti à brasão da República: veja lista de itens destruídos O TEMPO . 2023-01-14 . www.otempo.com.br . pt-BR.
  14. Web site: Tapete histórico e busto de Rui Barbosa foram vandalizados no STF . 2023-01-14 . noticias.uol.com.br . pt-br.
  15. Web site: Réplica da Constituição roubada por golpistas é devolvida ao STF . 2023-01-14 . G1 . pt-br.
  16. Web site: Margareth Menezes diz ter convocado reunião com técnicos do Iphan e restauradores para 'reconstruir tudo o que foi violado' . 2023-01-09 . G1 . pt-br.
  17. Web site: RTS/gw . Switzerland to help fix rare clock damaged during attack on Brazilian congress . 2023-02-25 . SWI swissinfo.ch . en.