A originalidade da obra de Ignacio Ferreira Pinto no contexto da talha carioca na segunda metade do século XVIII

Abstract

This study is based on the carioca artist Ignacio Ferreira Pinto's religious wood carvings. From a reflection on the technical, historical and stylistic aspects of the Portuguese-Brazilian wood carving, we came to the “fluminense” wood carving where the artistic production of Mestre Inacio is inserted – the second half of the 18th century. In this particular aspect, there is an effort to place the main models of retábulos (altar pieces), analyzing their formal and stylistic characteristics in order to put all data together and to establish subsequently comparative parameters with Mestre Inacio's work. The occurrence of a peculiar typology of rococo retabulo was observed in this period where the most important models were made by Mestre Inacio and Mestre Valentim. Mestre Inacio's personal data and artistic production were gathered based on the information of documents collected in primary sources found in files, fraternities and private collection, as well as on bibliographical research. His religious wood carvings performed along ten years approximately were submitted to a formal and stylistic approach. The analysis of the ornaments and the decorative style of the greatest masters of that time – Inacio and Valentim – makes it possible to recognize each artist's peculiar carving and it introduces a confront from which the personal contribution and the real dimension of Ignacio Ferreira Pinto's work, related to the context of the period, emerge. His work contributed to give to the carioca wood carving characteristics of a singular typology and it granted the rococo a solemn and monumental aspect. In spite of the conservative aspects in the art of the period, we find a larger detachment from the past in Mestre Inacio's work.