Image: WTL archive of Latin American course images.
Comments: These are three of the statues that line the steps up to the at the Basilica do Bom Jesus do Matozinho in Congonhas. They are considered baroque masterpieces. What are their characteristics? Monumentality, drama, solidity, tension. They are powerful figures. What do they depict? One answer: they depict qualities similar to how Aleijadinho and his fellow citizens of the Latin American Baroque period lived and created; i.e., the drama, tension, and power of Old Testament prophets.
Humanities topic: As a supremely talented sculptor, Aleijadinho inevitably expresses elements of both his culture (past and present) and his inner thoughts, challenges, emotions, motivations, etc. As you study this series of twelve images relating to Aleijadinho, in a compact paragraph write about what and Aleijadinho is expressing in stone.