| Congonhas - Churches - Passos da Paixão |
Ceia |
Flagelação |
Crucificação |
Around “Santuário do Bom Jesus de Matosinho” there are chapels with wood
sculptures that represent the steps of the Passion of Christ: “Ceia”, “Horto”, “Prisão”, “Flagelação”, “Coroa de Espinhos“ and “Crucificação”.
There are 66 statues carved by Antonio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho, and his assistants, between 1796 and 1799.
At that time, the artist was already suffering with the disease that mutilated
his body, the leprosy. According to specialists, Aleijadinho also had “porfiria”, when the body becomes sensible to light and get deformed when
in contact with clarity.
The painting of the statues started just in 1808, by initiative of Mestre Athaíde.
The images were colored as the chapels where they would be exhibited were finished. Exactly because of such procedure, it’s known that it was
not Mestre Athaíde who painted the sculptures of the three last chapels, as their construction was concluded only in 1875.
The first images painted were the ones of “Passo da Ceia”. The chapel that
shelters the sculptures was erected under supervision of Aleijadinho, while he was in Congonhas. The scene shows the moment when Christ says
that he would be betrayed by one of the disciples. There are a total of 15 sculptures.
Passo do Horto shows Jesus at “Jardim das Oliveiras”, accompanied by Pedro, João
e Tiago. The statue of the angel holding a calyx is the prominence. All images were made by Aleijadinho and painted by Mestre Athaíde in 1818,
same time when he painted the statues of “Prisão”. In “Prisão”, one of the most known parts of the bible, Jesus cures the soldier who had his
ear severed by Pedro.
“Flagelação” and “Coroação de Espinhos” divide the same space. There are 14 pieces
that picture soldiers torturing Jesus and putting the thorn crown on him. “Subida ao Calvário” is pictured with 11 images. It show Jesus and two
women, remits to the biblical fact when he asks the women no to cry for him. In “Passo da Crucificação”, Christ is being nailed to the cross
with Maria Madalena by his feet, surrounded by thieves who are also crucified and by soldiers.
Address: Praça da Basílica
Phone: 55-31-3731-3100 |
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