By Eugênia Gorini Esmeraldo
The painting is presented in the 1963 catalogue as Portrait of Dr. Chaves, and in that of 1982 as The Dr. José Maria Chaves, without any further references. There are indications that it could be Dr. Manoel José Chaves, a physician born in Francho Termo, Chaves county, Portugal, who came to São Paulo after the arrival of the royal family. Here he practiced medicine until his death in 1851 at the age of 84. It is said that Victor Meirelles was contracted to make the posthumous portrait (1873) by the physician’s son, Manoel José Chaves Júnior, a professor at the law school. The portrait features the subject surrounded by items related to the medical profession, which could be said to strengthen this theory.

— Eugênia Gorini Esmeraldo, 1998

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