Pierre-Joseph Pezerat. Architecte français à la Cour impériale du Brésil (1825-1831)

Abstract

Pierre-Joseph Pezerat, a French architect at the Brazil Imperial court (1825-1831) This study deals with the realizations in Rio de Janeiro of the architect Pierre-Joseph Pezerat (1801-1872) and with the role he played in the context of the strengthening of Brazil’s independence, during the period called the “Primeiro Reinado” (the first Empire) between 1822 and 1831. The architect’s arrival in Brazil is part of a number of scientific and military missions, which were meant to “civilize”. That raises the question of the way the new Brazilian elite was recruted in Europe by the Imperial House, on one hand, and, on the other hand, that of the French stylistic influence on 19th century Brazilian architecture. We wish to show to what extent art history can and should be taken into account as an enlightening element in the history of Brazil and, more precisely, of the exchanges between France and Brazil. Our approach combines an analysis specific to art history and a study of historical sociology.