Photo: BankBoston
Photo: BankBoston
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Opened in February 2001, the Gallery of Decorative Arts "Jenny Dreyfus",
offers the opportunity to appreciate three French 17th century tapestries -
two Flandres and one Aubusson - belonging to the Museum's collection, that
were restored in 2000 with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the
General French Consulate in Rio de Janeiro, Varig Airlines, at the Maison
Chevalier, in Paris.
At the Gallery Jenny Dreyfus, with a place reserved for temporary
exhibitions, other important pieces of the Museum's collection of
decorative arts are shown, great number of them being of French origin ,
among which a writing-desk known as "bonheur-du-jour" that can be adapted
as a dressing-table, and belonged to Princess Isabel.
Other pieces that stand out are the "recamier" set (a daybed) and arm
chairs that were used by the Duque of Caxias; two cabinets with mirror
known as "Dunquerques" for they were used in the 19th century to display
several kinds of trinkets, many of them imported from Paris at the "Le
Petit Dunkirk" shop; the center table in gilt metal with medallions in
Sèvres porcelain, having at the center the picture of Louis XVI encircled
by 17 ladies of the Court and the coat of arms of the House of France; a
pair of vases in Sèvres porcelain showing medallions with personages of the
Court, painted by Collot.
Decorative Arts, along the history of humanity, led an important part that
surpasses not only the aesthetic, but also religious and social aspects,
according to the head of the Museum's Storage Department, museologist Jorge
Cordeiro.
With modernity, industrialization brings the possibility of fabricating
artifacts in series, that threaten to remove the personal skill of the
artist . Nevertheless, the artistic touch of an object remains intact in
confrontation with mass production.
Anothercharacteristic aspect of decorative arts refers itself to the owner
of the object. The aura of refinement and sofistication defines his social
status. The context that always accompanies these pieces of art may remount
to the very origin of the word 'decoration': originated from 'decus' the
Latin word meaning 'ornament', as well as 'honor' and 'dignity'.
The collection of the National Historical Museum derives in great part of
donations made by distinguished personalities of the Brazilian society.
These donations are extremely significant, and among them, pieces of the
19th century, when the famous "salons" flourished in Europe, as well in
Brazil, having had great influence in the social, political, intellectual
and artistic life. Decorative arts provided "salons" with the necessary
aesthetic atmosphere to inspire poets, singers and musicians, and also the
place where political matters were decided.
The space that is destined for temporary exhibitions is motive for a double
celebration: the ceiling of the hall is painted by the renowned artist,
Carlos Oswald in the wainscoting technique, and the name of the hall in
honor of the museologist and teacher Jenny Dreyfus that dedicated great
part of her life researching decorative arts. |