Aleijadinho
(redirected from Antônio Francisco Lisboa)Aleijadinho
Aleijadinho
(literally, “small cripple,” pseudonym for Antonio Francisco Lisbôa). Born Aug. 29, 1730 or 1738, in Villa Rica; died there on Nov. 18, 1814. Brazilian architect and sculptor.
Aleijadinho was the son of the architect M. F. Lisboa (who died in 1766) and a Negro slave. He was deformed by leprosy and worked by attaching his tools to his gloves. A representative of the late baroque school, Aleijadinho built the Sao Francisco church in Ouro Préto (1766–94), which is remarkable for its dynamic composition, plastic form, elegant decoration, and fine carvings on the portals. He also designed the facade of the church Bom Jesus de Matozinhos in Congonhas (1757–77), with 12 stone statues of prophets (completed in 1805) on the stairways; these statues are brilliantly executed and express dynamism and pathos. In the garden chapels of this church he created six wooden painted groups entitled The Lord’s Passions (1780–99). He gave the judges, guards, and executioners in these groups a satirical resemblance to Portuguese colonial officials.