José Ferraz de Almeida Júnior (8 May 1850, Itu - 13 November 1899, Piracicaba), commonly known as Almeida Júnior, was a Brazilian artist and designer; one of the first there to paint in the Realistic tradition of Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet. The "Dia do Artista Plástico" (Day of Fine Artists in Brazil) is celebrated on his birthday.He remained in Paris until 1882 then, after a brief trip to Italy, returned to Brazil and exhibited the works he had created during his absence. The following year, he opened a studio in São Paulo and gave lessons. He also held exclusive art exhibitions and executed portraits of notable people, ranging from coffee barons to Republican politicians. In 1884, he held a showing at the "Exposição Geral de Belas Artes" and was made a Knight in the Order of the Rose
A year later, Victor Meirelles offered to give Júnior his position as Professor of History Painting at the Academy, but Júnior refused the offer, preferring to stay in São Paulo.
From 1887 to 1896, he made three more trips to Europe. During this period, he would increasingly turn from Biblical and historical works in favor of regionalist themes, depicting the everyday life of the "caipiras" and leaving the Academic style behind while gradually approaching Naturalism. Despite these changes, his reputation at the Academy remained unchallenged and he received the Gold Medal there in 1898.
His life ended tragically a year later when he was stabbed to death in front of the Hotel Central in Piracicaba by his cousin José de Almeida Sampaio, who had apparently just learned about Júnior's long-standing affair with Maria Laura do Amaral Gurgel; Sampaio's wife who had briefly been engaged to Júnior.
José Ferraz de Almeida Júnior select paintings:
