Andrada Pantheon
Top photo: Tadeu Nascimento
The resting place of the ashes of José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, the ‘Father of Independence”, and his brothers Antonio Carlos, Martim Francisco and Father Patrício Manuel, the pantheon was inaugurated on 7 September, 1923. The civic monument occupies the space of the old of the Carmo Convent gatehouse and consists of the monument designed by sculptor Rodolfo Bernardelli, made in Italy – the pieces arrived in 19 boxes, were then auctioned because of customs issues and acquired by merchants and by the Humanitarian Society of Santos.
Statue
The lying statue, in relief, of José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, the ‘Father of Independence’, can be seen in the main hall – underneath, in two steel boxes, are most of his mortal remains. The body was buried for 31 years in the nave of the high altar in the Carmo Convent church, with no significant indication as to what was there until in 1869, a circus artist called Antônio Carlos do Carmo discovered the tomb and obtained authorization to place a marble slab there, extolling the local hero. To the left of the monument to the patriarch stands the white marble funeral urn of Antonio Carlos Ribeiro de Andrada Machado e Silva, illuminated by a small hanging light fitting in colored glass. The funeral urn of Martim Francisco Ribeiro de Andrada can be found on the right of the monument, with a light fitting of colored glass hanging above it, held in place by two chains, forming an inverted triangle, one of the symbols of the Masons, to which the Andrada brothers belonged.
Photo: Tadeu Nascimento
Panels
In a colonial style space, with columns inspired by Masonic lodges, and indirect lighting, designed by local engineer Roberto Simonsen, there are also eight bronze panels in low relief, which depict scenes from Brazilian History, as well as inscriptions of phrases spoken by the Andrada brothers.
Photo: Tadeu Nascimento