The book titled 'The History of Pinacoteca Benedicto Calixto,' which documents the forty years of the institution's existence in Santos, on the coast of São Paulo, will be launched this Thursday (1). The work, written by journalist and historian Sergio Willians, has 221 pages and compiles documents, photographs, and never-before-seen records about the journey of the Pinacoteca and the Casarão Branco, its headquarters.
The launch event will take place at 6 p.m. at the institution's headquarters, located at Avenida Bartolomeu de Gusmão, 15, and will include an autograph session with the author.
The publication details a chronology that begins with the construction of the Casarão Branco, passing through the various uses of the property until the foundation of the Pinacoteca Benedicto Calixto Foundation, established in 1986. Furthermore, the book recovers the entity's trajectory through records of managers, employees, exhibitions, concerts, cultural activities, and other actions carried out over four decades.
To create the work, Sergio Willians conducted research in the archives of the Pinacoteca itself, the newspaper A Tribuna, and the Historical and Geographical Institute of Santos. The material also documents the participation of founders, directors, presidents, artists, council members, collaborators, and professionals involved in the restoration of the mansion.
During the launch, Roberto Clemente Santini, president of the Pinacoteca, will present two paintings by Benedicto Calixto that were recently acquired by the Pinacoteca Benedicto Calixto Foundation.
Who was Benedicto Calixto?
Benedicto Calixto, painter, draftsman, and researcher, was born in 1853 in Itanhaém, on the coast of São Paulo. The artist gained notable prominence for his works representing the landscapes and historical aspects of the São Paulo coast, becoming a reference in the safeguarding of regional memory, according to a statement from the City Hall of Santos.
Part of Calixto's collection is housed in the Pinacoteca named after him, and his relationship with the institution is explored in the book. After the foundation was created, fourteen canvases by the painter were donated to the location.
The Casarão Branco
The Casarão Branco was built in 1900 by the German Anton Carl Dick. Over the years, the property experienced various periods of use and conservation, mirroring the economic and urban changes of Santos.
In 1985, the property was integrated into municipal heritage for its preservation. The following year, the Pinacoteca Benedicto Calixto Foundation was established. After undergoing a restoration process, the mansion was officially inaugurated and made available to the public in 1992.
Among the highlights of the book are unprecedented photographs from the 1920s, the period when the Pires family resided in the property. These records display the interiors of the residence and allow for a comparison between the layout of the mansion during that period and the current one.
One of the images presented shows the old dining room, which today corresponds to the main hall of the Pinacoteca, used for exhibitions, concerts, and events. The author Sergio Willians commented that 'It was one of the great surprises of the research. I had never seen those images, and they practically allow you to enter that 1920s residence.'