Dissemination of Baroque Architecture within Brazil

Prior to 1650, two significant port cities were established in Brazil within the Portuguese empire: Salvador (1549) and Rio de Janeiro (1555). The majority of Portuguese settlement took place along the coast, contrary to other countries that would explore and settle inland. Brazil’s primary export was sugar from sugar cane from the northwestern coastal region of Brazil. Brazil provided Portugal with a reasonable income through this means until the Dutch invaded the northwest. From 1630-1654 the Dutch occupied the Pernambuco region of Brazil and learned the sugar industry. Once the Dutch were expelled they took the practice to the Caribbean and made it even more productive and profitable than it had been in Brazil. Brazil could no longer thrive on income from the sugar industry.

 

From 1650 to 1700, Brazil experienced a financial and thus developmental lull. The Portuguese crown realized that its Brazil colony was a drain to the empire rather than a profit, so they had explorers seek out gold and gems in Brazil’s interior. Upon the discovery of gold just prior to 1700, mining towns sprang up particularly in today’s state of Minas Gerais.

 

All churches are reviewed for the following Baroque trends:

• Theatricality

• Presence of Frescoes

• Two-tower facade

• Gilding

• Azulejos

 

And the following broad trends:

• Time of construction

• Social make-up of region

• Economic forces

• Geography