Julieta de França facts for kids

Julieta de França (born in 1870, died in 1951) was a very important Brazilian sculptor. She was a pioneer, meaning she was one of the first women to achieve great things in her field. In 1900, she won a special prize that let her study art in Paris, France. This was a big deal because she was the first woman to win it! When she came back to Brazil, she tried to enter a competition to create a sculpture about the Republic of Brazil. But her idea was turned down. It seems this was just because she was a woman, which was unfair.

Julieta de França: A Pioneering Sculptor

Julieta de França was born in Belém, Brazil, in 1870. Her father, Joaquim Pinto de França, was also an artist. Julieta started learning art in 1897 with an Italian artist named Domenico de Angelis. Later, she studied at the Escola Nacional de Belas Artes (ENBA) in Rio de Janeiro. This was a famous art school.

Studying Art in Paris

In 1900, Julieta made history. She became the first woman to win the "Prêmio de viagem ao exterio." This was a very important scholarship. It allowed her to travel and study art in Paris, France, for five years (from 1901 to 1905).

While in Paris, she studied sculpture at the Académie Julian. She also learned at the Institut Rodin. There, she was taught by Antoine Bourdelle, who was a main student of the famous sculptor Rodin. Thanks to this training, Julieta created artworks in the popular style of that time. One of her best works was Le Rêve de l’enfant prodigue (The Dream of the Prodigal Child). Art critics really liked it when it was shown at the Salon in 1904. Her art was also well-received back in Brazil.

Return to Brazil and Challenges

After finishing her studies in France, Julieta de França returned to Brazil. Her artworks were highly praised. She won a silver medal in 1907 and a gold medal in 1908. Because of her success, she received many requests for her art. These were called "commissions," and they came from both public and private groups.

However, her success did not last forever. In 1907, she entered a national competition. She wanted to create a sculpture to celebrate the Proclamation of the Republic of Brazil. But the judges rejected her idea. They said it "was not representative." Julieta was very upset by their decision.

She then went back to Europe to get opinions from famous artists. These included Rodin, Bourdelle, and Carolus-Duran. All of them strongly supported her sculpture idea. But the ENBA art school in Brazil, led by Rodolfo Bernardelli, did not change its mind. After this, Julieta de França stopped creating new artworks completely.

Julieta de França passed away in Rio de Janeiro in 1951.