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Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows
Ouro Preto, Vila Rica, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Religious Architecture
The Brotherhood of Our Lady of Sorrows and of the Calvary was formed in the parish church of António Dias in 1768. Its founders were Portuguese, members of the Irmandade Dolorosa de Braga (the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Sorrows of Braga). This cult was extremely famous: at the first festival of the scapular (1770), the most important figures in the Minas region and the dis- trict of Ouro Preto were present and certainly made generous donations. There is no information available about the artisans or the stages of the chapel’s construction; it is only known that, in 1788, the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Sorrows finished the work on their own chapel, which was built on land granted by the brethren of the Blessed Sacrament. The building is made of stone masonry with elements of cut stone. The portal is surmounted by a stucco decoration, with the emblem of the patron saint. The existing pediment is curvilinear, with a belfry at the centre topped by a cross and two masonry pinnacles. There used to be a central tower made of stone, which collapsed. The high altar is extremely simple, but features some fine images of Portuguese and Minas origin.
Cláudia Damasceno Fonseca