Brasil First~ Mestre Ataíde

 Brasil First~ Mestre Ataíde

On the 1st of every month, we honor a Brazilian artist.


Mestre Ataíde

Manuel da Costa Ataíde (Mariana, baptized on October 18, 1762 ★ – Mariana, February 2, 1830 ✝), better known as Mestre Ataíde, was a Brazilian painter, teacher, decorator, sculptor, and military man.

Little is known about his life and artistic training, and not all of his works are documented. However, he left behind a considerable legacy, with works spread across several cities in the state of Minas Gerais. 

He flourished during the transition from Baroque to Rococo, which in Brazil occurred with significant delay compared to developments in Europe, from where all formal models and theoretical principles originated.
Although a faithful follower of metropolitan standards, he knew how to innovate and achieve greatness. 

One of the distinguishing features of his work was the use of vivid colors in unusual combinations, often associated with the country’s lush natural environment. 

The angels, madonnas, and saints he painted sometimes display mixed-race features, which has led many to consider him a forerunner of a genuinely Brazilian art. 

He was a contemporary and collaborator of Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho, whose sculptures he brought to life with his painting.

Style and Influence

Ataíde flourished during the transition between Baroque and Rococo, which arrived in Brazil later than in Europe. Even while following European standards, he managed to innovate — his work is marked by the use of vibrant colors and unexpected combinations, often connected to Brazil’s tropical nature.

Partnership with Aleijadinho

He was a contemporary and collaborator of Antônio Francisco Lisboa, the Aleijadinho, and often complemented Aleijadinho’s sculptures with painting. Together, they helped shape the religious aesthetic of colonial Brazil.


Legacy in Brazilian Art

Ataíde had a profound influence on religious painting in Minas Gerais through many students and followers. 

His style and methods of composition, especially his work with perspective on church ceilings, remained influential until the mid-19th century.

Today, he is considered a landmark figure in the history of Brazilian painting, with a legacy often compared to Aleijadinho’s in sculpture.

Masterpiece: Assumption of the Virgin

His most famous work is the Assumption of the Virgin, also known as the Coronation of Our Lady of the Porciúncula — a monumental panel that covers the entire ceiling of the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Ouro Preto. It is regarded as one of the greatest achievements of colonial painting in Brazil.

Paintings