Showing posts with label Azores. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Azores. Show all posts

Sunday, 21 December 2008

Os Imigrantes - Domingos Rebelo


Of all the amazing stamps I have in my collection, this is probably my favourite. It was issued in 1999 by the CTT (Portuguese Postal Services) and depicts a painting named “Os Imigrantes”, painted by the Azorean painter Domingos Rebelo.

Domingos Rebelo, born in the city of Ponta Delgada, S. Miguel Island, in 1891, was a professor and a painter. He exhibited his first painting when he was only 13 years old. When he was 15 years old, due to his talent, and with the support of many people, he left the island to study in Paris, where he remained for six years. After returning to the island and marrying, he worked for thirty years in the same school where he studied, which today is named after him. In 1942, he settled in Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, doing several murals and paintings and getting involved in the National Arts Academy. He eventually died in that city in 1975.

He was a deeply religious person and gave a lot of importance to family and religion. Through out his life, he was always interested in helping and orientating young Azorean painters. He had a big impact in Azorean culture and Art, becoming the most known Azorean artist of all times.

Os Imigrantes (The immigrants) is his best known piece. It was painted in 1926 and shows local people in Ponta Delgada’s Harbour, waiting to leave the island and immigrate to other places in the world. It is considered a regionalist themed painting, because of its details: the traditional Azorean clothes, the Azorean guitar and the small frame next to the woman (it shows an image of Saint Christ of Miracles, a very important religious devotion in the islands).
I think it’s a remarkable painting, done by a remarkable painter.

Source: Wikipedia.

Friday, 12 December 2008

Pelourinho vs. Angra do Heroísmo



What are the odds of two different photographers, at different times, take two similar photographs of two different places? Well, I don’t know, but they must be slim.

Well, the above card was sent by baiana, from Brazil, and it shows Pelourinho, the historic centre of Salvador, the capital of the Brazilian state of Bahia. Salvador was founded in 1549, with the objective of becoming the headquarters of the Portuguese sovereignty in Brazil. Most of the buildings architecture was styled in colonial architecture (Portuguese baroque) and it has a unique look. The houses, buildings and churches still maintain the colourful colours that were usual in the 17th century and nowadays it’s a cultural centre. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 and it includes places such as the Governors’ Palace, the Church of San Francisco, the church of Carmo, etc.

The bellow card (from my album for trade) shows the Town of Angra do Heroísmo, which was the first place in the Açores to be elevated to the status of city, in 1534. It has a special place in Azorean History as one of the most important locations in the archipelago. For many centuries, Angra do Heroísmo was an obligatory stop to caravels, carracks and galleons full of riches, which brought wealth to the city. It has many palaces and convents, churches and forts. Originally, it was simply called Angra ( in English cove or harbor) because it had a cove that allowed the protection of big ships from the winds and other dangers. In the 19th century the name was changed to Angra do Heroísmo (English: of Heroism) in recognition to the courage and heroism of its inhabitants during the Portuguese Civil War.
In 1983, UNESCO declared its Historic centre a World Heritage Site. The site includes the fortifications of S. Sebastião and São João Baptista, the City Hall, the Cathedral, the town square, etc.

Both cards are amazing and depict incredible places in the world. I find them beautiful, especially because they are so similar…

Source: Wikipedia.


Wednesday, 19 November 2008

Lighthouse of Capelinhos II


I love maxicards and I collect them. They are the perfect combination of my two favourite hobbies: stamps and postcards. This one I bought on-line, on the CTT (Portuguese postal services) website.

It shows a beautiful view of Capelinhos and the stamps shows a vintage photo of the volcanic eruption on the site, in the 50’s. It's beautiful!

Tuesday, 28 October 2008

Lighthouse of Capelinhos


Every Azorean, at one time or another, has heard of the Lighthouse of Capelinhos. It is located in the village of Capelo, in Faial Island, which was the site of an off-shore violent volcanic eruption in the 50s: the volcano of Capelinhos. It caused the destruction of many houses and two parishes were evacuated. It was such a scary event, that it led to a mass departure from the Azores to North America, especially the USA, where the Senate approved the Azorean Refugee Act.

The lighthouse was inaugurated in 1903 and ceased its activity in the 29th of September of 1957, due to the eruption. It was the closest building to the eruption and was damaged and covered in ashes. Nowadays it’s being turned into a belvedere and close to it is a Museum.

I’ve visited this site a couple of years ago. It is quite stunning.

Source: Wikipedia.
 
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