Artwork

Cases d'indiens dans la forete de Matá-Matá sur le Monjú Pará-Brésil

Cases d'indiens dans la forete de Matá-Matá sur le Monjú Pará-Brésil is an oil painting by Giuseppe Leone Righini. It dates from 1867 and is held in the collection of the Pinacoteca de São Paulo.

About this work

Overview

Giuseppe Leone Righini’s 1867 oil painting, titled *Cases d’indiens dans la forete de Matá‑Matá sur le Monjú Pará‑Brésil*, presents a quiet Amazonian scene. The work is part of the collection of the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo and illustrates a modest dwelling set within a dense tropical forest.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas focuses on a thatched hut nestled among towering trees and palm fronds, suggesting a simple indigenous settlement in the Pará region. A narrow dirt track leads to the entrance, where a few figures linger, emphasizing the everyday life and seclusion of the community within its natural environment.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil, the painting employs a restrained palette of greens, earth tones, and soft blues to convey the humid atmosphere. Light is handled with subtle gradations, creating a gentle chiaroscuro that models the foliage and architecture without dramatic contrast, reinforcing the scene’s calm mood.

History & Provenance

Created in 1867, the work reflects mid‑nineteenth‑century European interest in South American landscapes and ethnographic subjects. After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s representation of Brazilian regional vistas.

Artist & collection

Artist

Giuseppe Leone Righini

Giuseppe Leone Righini (1820–1884) was an artist, born in Turin.

Museum

Pinacoteca de São Paulo

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