A silent observer watches us from this very spot. It is the Manuel Pereira da Silva Bust. Who was this man and why does his likeness stand here?
Manuel Pereira da Silva was a Portuguese sculptor born in 1920. Some sources say he was born in Oporto. Others claim his birthplace was Avintes. Regardless he was Vila Nova de Gaia through and through. He died in 2003.
Silva’s art often featured the human form. He had an abstract style. His work particularly focused on men and women. In 2000, Vila Nova de Gaia honored him. They awarded him the Medal of Cultural Merit.
In 1939, Silva began his studies. He attended the Oporto University’s College of Arts. He finished his coursework in 1953. He earned high marks. During his time there, he received two awards. These were the “Teixeira Lopes” and “Soares dos Reis” prizes.
Silva broadened his artistic horizons in Paris. He studied at the Paris College of Arts in 1946 and 1947.
Silva’s artistic contributions are varied. In 1943, he participated in the I Exposition of the Independents. It was held at the Oporto University’s College of Arts. He also showcased his work in the II and III Expositions of the Independents. These took place in 1944 and 1945.
Silva created low-reliefs in stone. You can find them in the Rivoli Theatre and the Coliseum in Oporto. He contributed to the Exposition of Portuguese Life and Art. It was held in Lourenço Marques, Moçambique, in 1946.
In 1954, Silva’s work appeared in the Exposition of Modern Art. It took place in Caldas da Rainha. The Portuguese Government commissioned him to sculpt General Ulysses S. Grant. The bronze sculpture stands in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Grant was the 18th President of the United States. He served from 1868 to 1876.
Silva also created paintings. You can see his paintings in the Church of Saint Luzia in Viana do Castelo. He painted “Snow White” on the Street of Saint Catarina in Oporto. This was in 1957. A bronze sculpture by Silva stands in the Square Marquis do Pombal in Oporto. It was created in 1958.
Silva continued to exhibit his work. He participated in the II Exposition of Modern Art in Viana do Castelo in 1959. He created a low-relief in ceramics for the capital of Angola in 1960.
Silva also created a low-relief in stone. It depicts “D. Pedro Pitões exhorting the Crusades.” It is located in the Courthouse in Oporto. In 1962, his work was part of the II Exposition of Plastic Arts. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation held it in Lisbon.
In 1987, the Artists Association of Vila Nova de Gaia honored Silva. They held a retrospective exposition of his work. This bust immortalizes Manuel Pereira da Silva. He was a talented sculptor who left his mark on Portugal and beyond. His art continues to inspire. His legacy endures through pieces like this bust. Take a moment to appreciate the skill and vision of Manuel Pereira da Silva.