Fishing piranhas, 1859
Photo: Rômulo Fialdini
Book: MHN
Ed. Banco Safra
Car station in the hinterland, 1859
Photo: Rômulo Fialdini
Book: MHN
Ed. Banco Safra
Chapel of Freguesia, 1869
Photo: Rômulo Fialdini
Book: MHN
Ed. Banco Safra
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In a partership made with the Social Service of Commerce/SESC, the National
Museum of History produced the itinerant exhibition "Memory of Ceará", with
photographic reproductions of watercolors and drawings by José dos Reis
Carvalho, painter, drawer and scenographer that joined the Scientific
Expedition to Ceará, in 1859.
With 32 planks, 15 are watercolors and 17 drawings made by José dos Reis
Carvalho from August 1859 up to July 1861, that document the scenery and
the daily life of several cities of Ceará.
José dos Reis Carvalho documented picturesque facts, as the tentative of
using camels, imported from Algeria, as means of transport, and
technological discoveries, as the first registry of the use of windmills in
the region of the Vale do Jaguaribe, unknown until then in the province of
Ceará and in the rest of the Brazilian territory.
Artist cited by Debret in his book "Voyage Pittoresque au Brésil"
(1834-1839) as being one of the pupils founders of the painting class of
the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts of Rio de Janeiro, he participated of the
Scientific Exploration Commission, promoted by the Brazilian Historic and
Geographic Institute in the province of Ceará.
After the arrival of the Portuguese Royal Family, in 1808, Brazil became an
open field for investigations for European scientists, but there existed a
lack of interest of the country regarding scientific research. In 1850,
the Brazilian Historic and Geographic Institute launched a proposal for
investigating the country to be made by Brazilian scientists, turned into
reality six years after the official creation of the Scientific Exploration
Commission that had two main purposes: study the natural conditions and
collect material for the National Museum. The choice for the province of
Ceará was based on the belief that the soil of that region was rich in
minerals.
Although no records referring to the birth and death of José dos Reis
Carvalho were found, one assumes that he had a rather long professional
career, about 60 years, proven by references made by Debret in 1824, and
work dating from 1884. The originals belong to the Historic Archives of
the Museum. The itinerant exhibition consists of 32 pictures size 60 x
54cm, and further details can be obtained by calling (5521) 550-9259.
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