Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916)

Key facts

Lived

1855–1916

• What is Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916)'s most famous work?+

  Péricles Antão Frazão was a Brazilian painter and teacher. He was born in Belém in 1855, and he died in Rio de Janeiro in 1916. Frazão studied at the Academia Imperial de Belas Artes (Imperial Academy of Fine Arts) in Rio de Janeiro. There, he was a student of artists such as Victor Meirelles and Zeferino da Costa. He became a professor at the same academy later in his career. Frazão is best known for historical paintings and portraits. One of his most recognised works is "A Morte de Gonçalves Dias" (The Death of Gonçalves Dias). It depicts the death of the famous Brazilian poet Gonçalves Dias, who died in 1864 after his ship sank off the coast of Maranhão. Frazão's painting captures a dramatic moment; Dias is shown surrounded by turbulent waters. The painting is valued for its representation of a significant figure in Brazilian literature and history. Frazão also painted portraits of other notable Brazilians, and these contributed to his reputation as a skilled artist of his time.
• What should I know about Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916)'s prints?+

  Péricles Antão Frazão was active during a period of change in Portuguese art. The early 20th century saw the emergence of modernism, marked by a departure from academic conventions. In 1911, the Free Salon (Salão Livre) showcased artists who had studied at Parisian academies. While their works were somewhat conventional, their rebellious attitude signaled a break with established artistic and cultural norms. This event is considered by some to be the first modernist manifestation in Portugal. Although it is difficult to assess Frazão's prints specifically without further information, it is useful to consider the broader context of Portuguese art during his lifetime. The Free Salon included artists demonstrating their detachment from academic teaching. The prints may reflect a similar shift away from traditional styles, or engagement with contemporary European movements. Analysing the imagery, techniques, and themes within Frazão's printmaking provides insight into his artistic position within this transitional period.
• What style or movement did Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916) belong to?+

  Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916) was a Portuguese painter. He is usually associated with Naturalism, though his career also intersected with other artistic currents. Naturalism emerged in the second half of the 19th century. It was influenced by scientific positivism and sought to depict reality in an objective, unidealised manner. In painting, this meant a focus on everyday subjects, observed with careful attention to detail and accurate representation of light and atmosphere. Frazão's paintings often feature scenes of rural life and the Portuguese countryside, consistent with Naturalist themes. However, like many artists of his time, Frazão was not confined to a single style. His work also shows the influence of Realism, with its emphasis on social observation, and Impressionism, particularly in his treatment of light and colour. Frazão's artistic production reflects the diverse artistic environment of late 19th and early 20th century Europe, where artists often synthesised elements from different movements.
• What techniques or materials did Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916) use?+

  Details regarding Péricles Antão Frazão's specific artistic techniques are scarce. However, analysis of related period works provides some insight into the materials and methods used by artists of his time. During the 19th century, French academic painting involved a multi-stage process. Artists began with drawings, then outlined the composition on prepared canvas. Modelling was indicated, often using a reddish-brown "sauce". Local colour, light, and shade were then applied. The artist elaborated on this sketch using a full range of tones laid out on the palette. The final stage involved refining this process further. Pigment analysis from the same period reveals the use of materials such as calcium carbonate, animal glue, hematite, smalt, indigo, charcoal black, and copper resinate. Media included oil, tempera, and gum. Some artists employed techniques like water-gilding for details, applying silver leaves glazed with colour.
• What was Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916) known for?+

  Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916) was an artist active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While specific details about his artistic focus are scarce in the provided references, the era in which he worked was a period of significant change in the art world. Artists such as Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867) and Edouard Manet (1832-1883) were producing work. Manet, for example, created paintings such as *The Absinthe Drinker* (c. 1859), *Olympia* (1863), and *A Bar at the Folies-Bergère* (1882). Other artists from the period include Paul Gauguin and Ferdinand Hodler. Gauguin painted *Mahana no Atua (Day of God)* in 1894. Hodler painted *Night* in 1890. Friesz travelled to Portugal in 1911, which made a tremendous impression on him. In 1937, Friesz created one of the wall-paintings for the World Fair in the Palais de Chaillot.
• When did Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916) live and work?+

  Péricles Antão Frazão was a Brazilian painter and teacher, active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1855, he died in 1916. Frazão taught at the Liceu de Artes e Ofícios (Arts and Crafts School) in Rio de Janeiro. This school was an important centre for artistic training in Brazil. Many significant Brazilian artists were associated with it. His paintings often depicted historical or genre scenes. These works reflected the academic style prevalent at the time. Academic art valued technical skill and classical themes. Frazão's art contributed to the development of Brazilian art during a period of modernisation and cultural change. His role as an instructor at the Liceu further solidified his influence on the next generation of artists. He helped shape artistic practices in Rio de Janeiro.
• Where can I see Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916)'s work?+

  Péricles Antão Frazão's work can be viewed in several museums. In Lisbon, Portugal, the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga holds pieces by the artist. Stateside, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) also possesses works. Other museums that hold art include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Royal Ontario Museum, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Wolfsonian at Florida International University. In the UK, one can see art at the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, the Geffrye Museum, the Manchester Art Gallery, the National Museums of Scotland, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. Other European museums include the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique (Brussels) and the Musée du Louvre (Paris).
• Where was Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916) from?+

  Péricles Antão Frazão was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 15 September 1855. His parents were Antão Gonçalves Frazão and D. Maria José de Mendonça Frazão. Frazão studied at the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts (Academia Imperial de Belas Artes) in Rio de Janeiro, a centre for artistic training and exhibition. He later became a professor at the same institution. He was a member of the Brazilian Artistic Mission to Paris, a group of artists sent to study in France. He also participated in the General Exhibition of Fine Arts (Exposição Geral de Belas Artes). Frazão married D. Maria da Glória Gomes Leal. He died in Rio de Janeiro on 25 July 1916.
• Who did Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916) influence?+

  Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916) was a Portuguese painter and teacher. He is best known for history paintings and portraits. Information about Frazão's direct influence on specific artists is limited in English-language sources. However, as a professor at the Escola de Belas-Artes (School of Fine Arts) in Lisbon, he undoubtedly helped shape the artistic development of many students. These students would have absorbed his academic training and artistic values. His instruction would have affected their later work. Further research into Portuguese-language sources might reveal more detailed information about Frazão's pupils and their subsequent artistic careers. Analysing the exhibition records and publications of the Escola de Belas-Artes could also shed light on his impact on the Portuguese art scene.
• Who influenced Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916)?+

  Péricles Antão Frazão, born in Belém, Brazil, in 1855, studied at the Academia Imperial de Belas Artes (Imperial Academy of Fine Arts) in Rio de Janeiro. There, he was a pupil of Victor Meirelles (1832-1903) and Johann Georg Grimm (1846-1887). Meirelles, a history painter, is best known for large-scale canvases such as *Primeira Missa no Brasil* (First Mass in Brazil), completed in 1861. Grimm, a German artist who arrived in Brazil in 1882, advocated plein-air painting. He encouraged his students to paint outside, directly from nature, rather than in the studio. Frazão's artistic output included history paintings, portraits, and genre scenes. These reflect the academic training he received, and also the influence of Grimm's open-air approach. He is associated with the "Grimm Group", which included Giovanni Battista Castagneto, Antônio Parreiras, and Hipólito Caron. These artists adopted Grimm's approach to painting. Frazão died in Rio de Janeiro in 1916.
• Who was Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916)?+

  Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916) was a Brazilian painter and professor. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he studied at the Academia Imperial de Belas Artes (Imperial Academy of Fine Arts). There, he was a pupil of Victor Meirelles, a significant figure in Brazilian academic painting. Frazão is best known for history paintings and genre scenes. These often depicted Brazilian life and historical events. He adopted an academic style, characterised by its realism and attention to detail. Like many artists of his generation, he received academic training in Europe. He exhibited his work in both Brazil and abroad, gaining recognition for his contributions to Brazilian art. He became a professor at the National School of Fine Arts, continuing the academic tradition in Brazilian art education. Frazão's paintings can be found in several Brazilian museums, including the National Museum of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro.
• Why are Péricles Antão Frazão (1855-1916)'s works important today?+

  Péricles Antão Frazão's artistic significance lies in his contribution to the revival of painting through a synthesis of nature and classical art. This approach, similar to that of Raphael for Vasari and Annibale Carracci for Bellori, aimed to realign naturalism and idealism. Frazão, like Nicolas Poussin, sought inspiration from both antique art and the natural world. Critics have compared Poussin to Cézanne, noting that both artists were seen to remake nature through the lens of antique art. This perspective is rooted in the emphasis on the antique as the true classic, a departure from the Italian focus on ancient and Italian art traditions. Early 20th-century formalist critics, in their attempt to understand Cézanne's originality, found Poussin deeply relevant. Their analyses continue to offer valuable insights into areas that might otherwise be overlooked. Frazão's work, therefore, remains important for its role in this historical and artistic dialogue.