Rodrigues often questions Brazilian social and political events and narratives in his work, and there is undoubtedly a stark contrast between the lively atmosphere of carnival and the gruesome death of the host city's pious saint. However, in this instance, splashes of red paint – resembling spilt blood – fills the background. In this painting, a fit young man is dressed in beach attire in the colours of the Brazilian flag, presumably enjoying a party.Ī crying figure bound with rope at the wrist and a topless man looking off to the side is reminiscent of traditional paintings of Saint Sebastian. Saint Sebastian is the patron saint of Rio de Janeiro where the biggest carnival in the world is held every year. Glauco Otavio Castilho Rodrigues (1929–2004) Essex Collection of Art from Latin America
