The School of Fine Arts (Brazilian Portuguese: Escola de Belas Artes) is one of the centers of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and dates back to colonial times.
A royal letter of 20 November 1800 by John VI of Portugal established the Aula Prática de Desenho e Figura in Rio de Janeiro. It was the first institution in Brazil systematically dedicated to teaching the arts. During colonial times, the arts were mainly of religious or utilitarian nature and were learnt in a system of apprenticeship.
The Decree of 12 August 1816 created the Escola Real de Ciências, Artes e Ofícios (Royal School of Sciences, Arts and Crafts), which established an official education in the fine arts. Then it was renamed as the Academia Imperial de Belas Artes (Imperial Academy of Fine Arts), instituting a system of artistic education that would greatly influence the development of Brazilian art.
On 8 November 1890, the old Imperial Academy was transformed into the National School of Fine Arts (Brazilian Portuguese: Escola Nacional de Belas Artes). In 1931, the School joined the University of Rio de Janeiro, the current Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Notable alumni
Affonso Eduardo Reidy (1909–1964), architect
Anna Maria Maiolino (1942–), Italian plastic artist
Artur Barrio (1945–), conceptual artist
Arthur Timótheo da Costa (1882–1922), Afro-Brazilian painter
Burle Marx (1909–1994), landscape architect
Candido Portinari (1903–1962), painter
Franz Weissmann (1911–2005), Austrian sculptor
Ismael Nery (1900–1934), poet and painter
Lúcio Costa (1902–1998), Brazilian architect and urban planner
Lygia Pape (1927–2004), sculpture, engraving, and filmmaking
Oscar Niemeyer (1907–2012), architect
Oswaldo Goeldi (1895–1961), artist and engraver
Rubens Gerchman (1942–2008), painter and sculptor
Victor Meirelles (1832–1903), painter