THE FIGURINAI DELLA LUCCHESIA:

THE PRODUCTION AND TRADE OF PLASTER SCULPTURES AROUND APARECIDA, SÃO PAULO, BRASIL

Abstract

In the first half of the 20th century, factories for devotional plaster sculptures were established in Guaratinguetá, São Paulo, founded by Italian immigrants from the Bagni di Lucca region, known for the distinctive tradition of the figurinai della Lucchesia. The aim of this article is to analyze the evolution of devotional plaster sculptures in Brazil. The figurinai have left traces since the 19th century, especially in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. In the early 20th century, some figurinai immigrated to Recife, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, and Guaratinguetá, from which Aparecida was emancipated in 1928. The factories of the Lucchesi and Petrini immigrants were pioneers in producing devotional sculptures to meet the demand near the National Shrine.