The urbanization of Rio de Janeiro reached its peak with the Pombaline viceroys in the 18th century. Although the city did not bear the traditional marks of European Baroque, it was present in the new spatial dimension.
The urban landscape of Rio revolved around the plazas, and its streets ended in buildings. The spatial arrangement of churches and public buildings produced an architectural design that made the baroque city seem more illuminated. This constructive strategy was the result of the ideas and techniques of military engineers, architects, and street planners who conceived urban space in the 18th century.
Largo do Carmo, for example, was remodeled to keep pace with the transformations of a Rio de Janeiro that was growing at a dizzying rate. The place where, since 1743, the governors' residence had stood was, from 1763 onward, transformed into the Palácio dos Vice-Reis. The square gained a large plaza paved with stones, a stone-cut quay with stairs and ramps, as well as the fountain built by Mestre Valentim (1789), which replaced the previous one erected by order of governor Gomes Freire in 1747. The monumentality of the area was enhanced by the new façade of the Palácio dos Vice-Reis, the presence of the churches in the background, and the star-shaped paving, which directed the eye toward the center of the plaza, highlighting its grandeur.
Image description: This is an oval-shaped painting depicting a historic square. On the left side, we see a building with several windows and a white roof. In the center, there is a large palace with columns and a red roof. To the right stands another building similar in size and style. In the background, we see a church with a dome and a tower. In the foreground, a crowd of people is arranged in rows, possibly for a ceremony or public event. The sky is clear and blue, contrasting with the darker tones of the buildings."Parada Militar no Largo do Paço" (Military Parade at Largo do Paço), Military Review at Largo do Paço, late 18th century. Oil on canvas – Leandro Joaquim.
The layout of the buildings, the treatment given to the paving, and the furnishings of the urban center were designed to produce a theatricality that would impress those arriving in the city. Largo do Carmo represented a simplified version of the great European squares, with the same visual charm.
Another characteristic of the interventions of the period were the public gardens, responsible for introducing new elements into the urban landscape. The first of these was inaugurated in 1783, from the landfill of the Lagoa do Boqueirão da Ajuda: the Passeio Público. With the enlightened orientation of the Pombaline viceroys, the city gained the presence of social reason and artificiality – baroque elements that enchanted passersby.
Image description: This is an oval painting depicting a historic landscape with architectural and human elements. On the left side, we see a small town with simple houses and a church with a tower. In the background, there is a hill with a tall building. In the center, an aqueduct with many arches stands out, built over a river. On the right, there is a large white house with windows and doors. People are scattered along the river, some swimming and others walking. The predominant color is the green of the trees and vegetation, contrasting with the blue of the sky and the brown of the aqueduct.The Boqueirão da Ajuda Lagoon existed where the Passeio Público stands today. Oil on canvas by Leandro Joaquim
