Artwork irreparably damaged by Brazil riots
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The three buildings that supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed held a rich collection of art, some of which became irreparably damaged.
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A vandalized painting depicting a political figure lies on a room at the National Congress (Getty images)
Political leaders condemned the rioters' storming on Brazil's Congress, the Supreme Court and Presidential Palace in Brasilia, on Sunday, criticizing the grave attack on the country's democratic fabric, which left a trail of destruction.
Check out: World leaders react to Bolsonaro’s riots in Brazil
The three buildings held a rich collection of art, and some became irreparably damaged.
The loss of key parts of the artistic collection that represents a significant chapter in Brazil's history was mourned by the government.
"The value of what was destroyed is incalculable because of the history it represents. The collection is a representation of all the presidents who represented the Brazilian people during this long period that begins with JK [Juscelino Kubitschek, president from 1956 to 1961]. This is its historical value", Rogério Carvalho, the Director of Curatorship of the Presidential Palaces, said.
The rioters damaged works of art that include As mulatas, by Emiliano Di Cavalcanti, Bandeira do Brasil, by Jorge Eduardo, O Flautista, by Bruno Giorgi, Wooden sculptures by Frans Krajcberg, Chairs designed by Polish architect and designer Jorge Zalszupin, Desk used by President Juscelino Kubitschek, the Brazilian leader who ordered the construction of Brasilia, Showcase table by Sérgio Rodrigues, and Balthazar Martinot clock.
Only two timepieces by Martinot like this exist in the world, the Brazilian government said.
"The other is on display at the Palace of Versailles, but is half the size of the piece that was completely destroyed by the invaders", the government said in a statement.
The damage was beyond repair, according to an art specialist.
— Carlos Alberto Jr. (@cajr1569) January 8, 2023
Riots in Brazil that sowed destruction across several government buildings in Brasilia by followers of former leader Jair Bolsonaro lasted for approximately three hours on January 8 before Brazilian security was able to disperse rioters and take control of Parliament.
Brazilian security forces cleared riot camps Monday and arrested 1,500 people as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned "acts of terrorism" after far-right supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro broke into the country's Planalto presidential palace, Congress, and Supreme court building on Sunday.
A federal security intervention was announced by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva until January 31st after the capital was secured.
Bolsonaro had been defeated by leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the latest election. Lula da Silva was inaugurated on January first. However, Bolsonaro supporters defied the democratic process and stormed government buildings, including parliament, where they called for "military intervention." This incident came after Bolsonaro made baseless accusations of possible election fraud that could be paralleled to that of former US President Donald Trump.
On his part, Bolsonaro tweeted that he had been hospitalized in Florida with abdominal pains stemming from a near-fatal knife attack when he was campaigning for the presidency in 2018.
Bolsonaro has alleged that he is the victim of a conspiracy against him by Brazil's courts and electoral authorities.
The ex-President traveled to Orlando on the second-to-last day of his term -- snubbing Lula's inauguration, in a break with tradition.
Bolsonaro, 67, took to Twitter Sunday night to condemn the "pillaging" in Brasilia but rejected Lula's accusations that he incited the attacks and defended the right to what he called "peaceful protests".
