File number: brjd0170

© South American Pictures/ Tony Morrison

Brazil: Minas Gerais state: The Prophet Oseas (Hosea) is one of 12 massive figures sculpted by Antonio Francisco Lisboa for the Basilica do Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinhos in Congonhas. Born in Ouro Preto in 1738, Antonio Francisco Lisboa is Brazil's most famous colonial artist. His work is the more remarkable because in later years he was crippled, probably from leprosy. Widely known as Aleijadinho, or 'the little cripple', he was unable to walk or use his fingers and his apprentices would move him around on a wooden trolley, with his hammer and chisel strapped to his wrists. In this way, not only did he complete the stone prophets, but also 64 life-size Passion figures in the same church.