Domingos António de Sequeira (1768-1837)
Study for The Death of Camões or The Last Moments of Camões
Paris, 1824
This drawing is a partial preparatory study for the famous painting known as The Death of Camões or The Last Moments of Camões, painted by Domingos Sequeira in Paris and presented at the Salon of 1824. With this canvas, the painter was awarded one of the Gold Medals in this event. The Salon of 1824 is recognized by international historiography as the starting point for Romanticism in Europe, and this work by Domingos Sequeira, in what concerns both its theme and the way it is dealt with painting-wise, already incorporates the spirit of Romanticism. The year following the Salon, this painting was offered and sent by its author to Pedro I, then Emperor of Brazil, having disappeared during the 19th century. Its whereabouts are thus currently unknown, although it may presumably be in the possession of an heir. For this reason, the only existing testimonies of this mythical painting that allow us to know its composition are some drawings like this one with preparatory studies.
This drawing belonged to the former collection of Dr. Luiz Xavier da Costa (and previously to the collections of the Marquis de Sousa Holstein, Manuel Braga São Romão and Dr. Luiz Augusto de Oliveira, first director of the Regional Museum of Viana do Castelo).
Study for The Death of Camões or The Last Moments of Camões
Paris, 1824
This drawing is a partial preparatory study for the famous painting known as The Death of Camões or The Last Moments of Camões, painted by Domingos Sequeira in Paris and presented at the Salon of 1824. With this canvas, the painter was awarded one of the Gold Medals in this event. The Salon of 1824 is recognized by international historiography as the starting point for Romanticism in Europe, and this work by Domingos Sequeira, in what concerns both its theme and the way it is dealt with painting-wise, already incorporates the spirit of Romanticism. The year following the Salon, this painting was offered and sent by its author to Pedro I, then Emperor of Brazil, having disappeared during the 19th century. Its whereabouts are thus currently unknown, although it may presumably be in the possession of an heir. For this reason, the only existing testimonies of this mythical painting that allow us to know its composition are some drawings like this one with preparatory studies.
This drawing belonged to the former collection of Dr. Luiz Xavier da Costa (and previously to the collections of the Marquis de Sousa Holstein, Manuel Braga São Romão and Dr. Luiz Augusto de Oliveira, first director of the Regional Museum of Viana do Castelo).
Domingos António de Sequeira (1768-1837)
Study for The Death of Camões or The Last Moments of Camões
Paris, 1824
Charcoal, stump, and chalk on paper
25 × 34 cm
Acquisition, May 2021
MNAA, inv. 3463 Des
©Leiloeira Renascimento, João Krull