“ORDINATION AND CORONATION OF D. PEDRO I,” BY JEAN-BAPTISTE DEBRET: ON THE PATH OF A HISTORICAL PAINTING

Abstract

Painted in 1828, Jean-Baptiste Debret’s (1768- 1848) “Ordination and Coronation of D. Pedro I” is certainly one of the most celebrated paintings of the First Reign (1822-1831) of the Empire of Brazil. Although widely disseminated in school manuals and publications on Brazilian Art, the social trajectory of this painting remains unknown. In this sense, from consultations to the Brazilian and French archives, this study sought to chase the nebulous historical transits of this painting - which crossed the Atlantic twice before being permanently installed at the Itamaraty Palace, in Brasilia, in the 1970s, after remaining in the Castelo d’Eu, residence of the imperial family in times of exile, for a long season. The findings allows us to unveil the intricacies that enable the survival of the until the present days.

Keywords :
Jean-Baptiste Debret; Coronation of D. Pedro I; historical painting; trajectories of works of art; imperial family in exile