The Life and Art of Pedro Caetano
Pedro Caetano, also known as Mestre Ataíde, was a Brazilian painter, sculptor, gilder, and teacher. Born in Mariana, Brazil, he was a significant figure in the Baroque-Rococo school of Minas Gerais, where his method of composition—particularly regarding perspective works on church ceilings—influenced the region until the middle of the nineteenth century. His artistic style is notably characterized by the use of bright colors, with a particular emphasis on the use of blue.
His professional life involved significant collaborations, including the gilding of images for the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos in Congonhas and the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Ouro Preto between 1781 and 1818. In 1818, he attempted to establish an art school in his home town of Mariana.
Notable Works
The artist's body of work includes several significant religious paintings and ceiling compositions. Among the documented works in our catalog is:
Other works attributed to him include the "glorification of the Virgin" on the wood roof of the main nave in the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Ouro Preto, painted between 1801 and 1812, as well as "The Last Supper" in the college of Caraça in 1828.
