Victor Meirelles
Victor Meirelles was a prominent Brazilian painter born on August 18, 1832, in Florianópolis. He is best known for his historical and religious paintings, which often reflect the cultural and social issues of his time. Meirelles studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro and became a significant figure in the Brazilian art scene during the 19th century.
His most famous work, A Primeira Missa no Brasil (The First Mass in Brazil), depicts the arrival of the Portuguese in Brazil and the first mass celebrated by Father Manuel da Nóbrega. Meirelles' contributions to Brazilian art helped shape the country's artistic identity, and he is remembered as a key figure in the Romantic movement.