The Dead Christ of Pedro Americo.

The story of the disappearance of the painting " Dead Christ", by the painter Pedro Américo, in a small museum in his native city Areia, in the interior of the state of Paraíba, in the Northeast of Brazil. IntroductionAreia, a very nice city located in the mountain range of the Borborema to about 60 km of João Pessoa, capital of Paraíba. Reaching an altitude of 1700 m, the rains in this region are very constant, which gave rise to the affectionate name of this quiet town of "Brejo de Areia". Its population is mainly composed of rural workers, small traders, farmers and ranchers. As in all the cities of the interior of the Northeast, in Areia, the practice of "coronelismo" was also common. The social elite elected the mayor and directed the course of the city's development into the fences of its showy properties full of plantations and creations. Meanwhile, people did not even want to be recognized as people. ¹ Hungry creatures still lived in stick-a-pits dwellings. Not even the Clergy, represented by the missionary who administered the elegant Church of the city, cared for the miserable and needy. I remember with the sadness of a brief visit of the bishop to the city of Areia, where one day before his arrival at the mass of the day the priest asked all the illustrious sons of Areia present for the clergyman. "_The bishop is very fond of orange ..." said the priest, addressing one of the gentlemen. "_"He will be very pleased if he wins a painted cow from Mr. Borjes...." And so, the beautiful reception of the honored religious was done. This was the social work of God's representative in the city of Areia, serving those who did not need it. However, the city was still famous for being the birthplace of the great painter Pedro Américo. In the simple house where the painter was born, today " Museum de Pedro Américo", there are several objects that belonged to him. Drawings, palettes, personal books, and even the instrument with which his parents repressed him. A painted image that composes one of the "Dead Christ" painted in 1901 and a self-portrait of the undated painter are the only works of original paintings from the museum's collection. The little Pinacoteca of the great painter!In contrast to the poverty of the artistic patrimony and the lack of homage to the painter of world-wide reputation, the tributes paid to politicians and religious stand out, spending untold amounts, of the public funds and of the Church. This happens throughout the northeast of Brazil until the present day. ¹ (This was, my only view at this time when I was a teenager).