Currently condemned in most of the world, bullfights were once fashionable in colonial Rio de Janeiro. Until the declaration of independence in 1822, they were held as commemorative events in honor of the Portuguese Royal Family.
Flyer for the grand bullfight celebrating the birthday of D. Pedro II, at "Largo dos Curros," the former name of Campo de Santana
Image description: The image is a flyer announcing a grand bullfight in celebration of D. Pedro II's birthday, at Largo dos Curros, now known as Campo de Santana. The flyer is predominantly black and white, with the title "GRANDE CIRCO DE TOUROS" standing out in large, bold black letters. Below, there is information about the event, including the specific date of December 2, 1877, and the names of the bullfighters and presenters mentioned.The initiative came from Portuguese merchants who occupied the areas around Praça XV, Campo de Santana, the present-day Quinta da Boa Vista, and the former Praça XI. Excited about the bulls and bullfighters who came from Europe, they kept the Portuguese tradition of not killing the animals, although the bulls suffered from the spears stuck into them.
Arena of Campo de Santana - Engraving by Franz Josef Fruhbeck
Image description: This is a colored engraving depicting the Arena of Campo de Santana. The image shows an open square with an amphitheater at its center, surrounded by buildings of various heights. On the left, there is a circular structure, likely the amphitheater, with tiered seating. In the background, on the right, are lower buildings, possibly residences or commercial establishments. In the upper part of the image, there is a hill with vegetation. The sky is light blue, and the lighting suggests it is daytime. The colors are vivid, with shades of green, yellow, and red predominating in the buildings.It is believed that the first bullfight in Rio was held in March 1641, in a 'Praça do Curro' set up between Morro do Castelo and the Lagoa do Boqueirão, in the Centro area. The site was enormous, with luxury stands and boxes occupied by the elite. The event was held in tribute to the Acclamation of Dom João IV and the end of Spanish rule over Portugal. In the early decades of the 19th century, important bullfights were organized. Of the significant bullfights held in the early decades of the 19th century, the most spectacular were those of 1818, which were part of the wedding festivities of D. Pedro I and Princess Leopoldina. In the 1840s and 1850s, changes in the way the events were organized brought a new audience to the sport. Private entrepreneurs entered the scene, investing in more comfortable venues, music bands, and quality cattle.
The bullfights also began to include the “bullfight of the curious,” and at the end of the official program, volunteers could step forward to take on the role of bullfighter. In 1847, it was time for yet another novelty: in a ring set up at the corner of Frei Caneca and Riachuelo streets, the people watched in admiration the performance of a female bullfighter, Miss Joanna Paulina.
The great demand for the events in the city ended up prompting the founding of the Clube Tauromáquico and several arenas, most of them in the Flamengo neighborhood. But the success of the bullfights also reignited controversy over the primitivism of the sport. Great names of Brazilian culture, such as the writers Arthur Azevedo and Machado de Assis, began to publicly condemn the situation. At the end of the 19th century, Rio de Janeiro gained its first and only permanent bullring, near what is now the corner of Ipiranga and Laranjeiras streets. But the site would not last long.
Bullring in Laranjeiras (Rua Ipiranga) - 1890 - Marc Ferrez
Image description: This is a historic black-and-white photograph, dated 1890, showing the Praça de Touros (bullring) in Laranjeiras, located on Rua Ipiranga. The image captures an urban area with several houses and buildings arranged around a rounded structure, which is the bullring. On the left, we see lower, more distant buildings, while on the right, there are larger buildings closer to the viewer. At the center, the bullring stands out with its circular shape and metal roof. In the background, we observe a series of houses and buildings that form the perimeter of the area.Surrounded by controversy and often banned, bullfights stopped being held in the city in 1907, following a decree by mayor Souza Aguiar.
