João Baptista da Costa

In the multifaceted world of Brazilian art, the name of João Batista da Costa is indelible. Born in Itaguaí on November 24, 1865 and died in Rio de Janeiro on April 20, 1926, he unfolded his talent as a painter, draftsman, teacher and illustrator in an impressive way. His life and art were a symphony of triumph and adversity, from humble origins to nationwide recognition that lives on in vivid art prints of his masterpieces. Batista da Costa came from a humble family. After a poor childhood spent in the Asilo de Meninos Desvalidos in Rio de Janeiro, he found his way to the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts in 1885 through the support of Barão de Mamoré, then Minister of the Empire. There he became a student of Joao Zeferino da Costa and Rodolfo Amoedo, two renowned artists of their time. As early as 1894 he won the prestigious Travel to Europe Prize with his painting "Em Repose", which enabled him to go on a study trip to Paris. There he deepened his artistic creativity at the Julian Academy.