SYMBOLISM OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION AND VINCENTIAN FRAGMENTS

IN SEARCH OF THE GENESIS OF COLONIAL ART – 1559

Abstract

The oldest carvings of the Jesuits in the New World – the Vincentian Fragments of 1559 – are finally revealed in their artistic beauty and historical importance. Part of them was published for the first time in "Igrejas Paulistas – Barroco e Rococó" in 2003, with indications that they were the ancient carvings, from the second of São Vicente, 1559, from the altar of the Immaculate Conception. In 2023, it was confirmed that the fragments were from São Vicente and were all cataloged and published in The Jesuit Carvings of the São Vicente Mother Church – 1599, in 2024. The initial analysis of the symbols present in the carvings indicated that one of the altars was designed to house the first Brazilian sculpture of the Immaculate Conception, modeled by João Gonçalo Fernandes in 1560. There are fifteen fragments that point to two altars. Here, the fragments of the Immaculate stood out, especially the Sun, the Eagle Scrolls, the Griffin, and the Throne, which complement the symbols of the Virgin's image with an angel (missing).