Brazil Rioters Destroyed Priceless Artwork in Capital Rampage

Daniel Cancel
·1 min read
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(Bloomberg) -- The rioters who broke into Brazil’s most iconic government buildings in the capital on Sunday caused irreparable damage to the country’s patrimony and art collections, according to the presidency’s office.

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An iconic 1928 painting by Brazilian modernist Di Cavalcanti called “As Mulatas” had seven rips. The piece is valued at about 8 million reais ($1.5 million) though it could fetch multiples of that at auction, the presidency said in a statement.

A 17th century clock built by France’s Balthazar Martinot, which was a gift to Portugal’s Dom Joao VI, was “completely destroyed.” It’s one of several clocks by Martinot, with another in the Versailles Palace, according to the statement. While some of the artwork will be repaired, it will be “very difficult” to restore the clock, Rogerio Carvalho, a curator at the presidency said.

“The value of what was destroyed is incalculable,” Carvalho said in the statement. “In terms of art, the presidency definitely has some of the most important collections in the country.”

Other damages included:

  • Frans Krajcberg’s wooden sculpture, valued at 300,000 reais, was broken in several parts

  • Bruno Giorgi’s bronze statue “O Flautista,” valued at 250,000 reais, was smashed with pieces thrown across the floor

  • Jorge Eduardo’s 1995 painting “Bandeira do Brasil” was found floating in a pool of water

  • A work table by former president Juscelino Kubitschek was used as a barricade by rioters and damages are still under review

  • The glass on a table by Sergio Rodrigues, used as a work space by active presidents, was smashed

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