After a painting by Tarsila do Amaral, previously considered a fake, was authenticated this week, the artist's heirs are exchanging scathing criticism through public letters.
Tarsla died in 1973, leaving neither a son nor a husband. She has 57 heirs, divided between those who are with Tarcelinha do Amaral, the artist's niece who has been at the head of her legacy for 20 years, and those who are in line with her grandniece Paula Montenegro, who has been in charge of the estate since 2022.
The report asked about the exact number of heirs on the Montenegrin side and whether there were any who remained neutral, but had not received any response by the time of publication of this text.
In a statement released on Wednesday (21), 27 heirs on Tarcelinha's side – 28 of whom are with her – have rejected the attestation of authorship of the painting “Paisagem 1925”. They say that “a small group of people, including the heirs of Tarsila do Amaral, do not have the legitimacy to affirm the authenticity of the works without presenting them to the college that prepared the painter's catalogue raisonné”.
The catalogue raisonné, prepared by a group of experts and published in 2008, is a reference book on Tarsila's works, but it does not include the new painting “Paisagem 1925”, which may have been unknown to family members and was outside Brazil at the time of production.
The letter also notes that Paula Montenegro is not prepared to comment on the authentication process of the painting. It also says that Tarsila do Amaral Licenciamento e Empreendimentos SA, known as Tale, does not have a license to do so – the company, which Montenegro heads, looks after the painter's legacy.
He finally adds that there was no prior discussion about the authenticity of the painting with the 28 heirs who signed the letter. “This irresponsible attempt to publish Tarsila’s work, not referred to in the catalogue, jeopardizes the credibility gained over years of hard work.” [de fazer o raisonné]“Which could lead people in good faith to purchase counterfeit works,” the document states.
In response, the heirs allied with Montenegro issued on Thursday (22) a letter stating that the certification of “Landscape 1925” expands and enriches Tarsala's legacy, “with the inclusion of another painting, with important influences on the Brazilian cultural heritage, defining the artist's legacy.” qualities”.
The memorandum states that Till has the right to authenticate the authorship of works attributed to Tarsila and to promote a new catalogue of her works. “The newly issued letter from some of the heirs [aliados de Tarsilinha] It only expresses dissatisfaction with the ongoing modernization in the company and raises the tarnishing of the reputation of this valuable cultural heritage.”
It also confirms the dissolution of the committee that prepared the catalogue raisonné and describes the testimonies of the artist's works executed in the past as unofficial.
They say the authentication of “Paisagem 1925” is the result of an artistic and scientific process led by expert Douglas Quintali, who received support from the University of São Paulo and a laboratory for the analysis of works of art at the Federal University of Fluminense.
Also according to the letter, one of the commitments of the new management of the estate is “out of respect for the artistic and cultural heritage of Tarsila do Amaral”, to take “to itself the work of documenting, documenting and disseminating the works of the greatest Brazilian painters”.
Eleanor Fairchild is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, presenting complex issues in an accessible and engaging way while maintaining a strong commitment to accuracy and relevance.