Matos Guerra, Gregorio de

Matos Guerra, Gregório de 

Born 1633, in Salvador, Brazil; died 1696, in Recife. Brazilian poet.

Matos Guerra graduated from the university at Coimbra in Portugal. His verse was circulated in manuscript copies. The influence of the Spanish and Portuguese baroque on his poetry is evident in the contrast of burlesque and piety and of erotic feeling and Platonism. Of particular interest is Matos’ satirical verse, which mocks the colonial officials and Portuguese nouveauxriches who made their fortunes in Brazil. Matos Guerra was the first to give a true literary account of life in Brazil.

WORKS

Obras completes, vols. 1-2. São Paulo, 1943.

REFERENCES

Araripe Tristão de Alençar (Júnior). Gregório de Matos. Rio de Janeiro, 1934.
A literatura no Brasil, vol. 1, part 1. Rio de Janeiro, 1956.

I. A. TERTERIAN