ALEIJADINHO

born Aug. 9, 1738?, Villa Rica, Brazil died Nov. 18, 1814, Mariana byname of Antnio Francisco Lisboa prolific and influential Brazilian sculptor and architect whose Rococo statuary and religious articles complement the dramatic sobriety of his churches. He was of Portuguese and black ancestry. Aleijadinho was born deformed (his sobriquet means Little Cripple). He eventually lost the use of his hands and finally became blind, but he worked tirelessly, nonetheless, with tools strapped to his wrists, until the end of his long life. He designed, built, and decorated the sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matozinhos, Congonhas do Campo (175777), and the Church of So Francisco, Ouro Prto (176694).