Collaborate
Church of Saint Francis of Paola
Ouro Preto, Vila Rica, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Religious Architecture
The Brotherhood of Saint Francis of Paola was established in 1780. It was established in a temporary chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy. The foundation stone of the definitive church was laid upon the same hill overlooking the city in 1804. The work dragged on throughout the 19th century and was interrupted several times due to the brethren’s lack of funds. The construction of the chancel was initially entrusted to Master Felipe Eugênio. It was altered by Captain-General Francisco Machado da Cruz, who also made the design, in 1834. Master José da Silva Coelho began building the nave as late as 1857 and it took over two decades to be completed. The gilding of the high altar was done in 1898, while that of the side altars was done by the artist Henrique Bource between 1901 and 1908. Although built in the 19th century, the frontispiece of this church features characteristics that are typical of religious buildings from the second half of the 18th century. The various altarpieces in the interior are of high quality and homogeneous from a stylistic point of view. The main point of interest is the beautiful image of Saint Francis of Paola, attributed to O Aleijadinho by the experts of SPHAN. Also noteworthy are the ceramic statues of the gospel writers, imported from Portugal, which used to decorate the monumental staircase that leads to the church, but which, due to acts of vandalism, are now kept inside the building.
Cláudia Damasceno Fonseca