Letter signed by Vinicius de Moraes (1946)

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At the beginning of his career, Vinicius de Moraes took on his first post as a diplomat in Los Angeles.

• Unpublished handwritten letter from Vinicius de Moraes to Raul Bopp, his colleague both at Itamaraty and as a writer.
• Two pages.
• In Portuguese.
• Los Angeles, July 19, 1946.
• 18.3 cm x 26.6 cm.
• Excellent condition.

Playwright, journalist, singer, composer, diplomat and poet, Vinicius de Moraes was what today we would call a complete artist, performing masterfully in each of his roles. One of those few people who are born every few generations capable of mastering different forms of expression with excellence, Vinicius marked his name in the history of art in Brazil, and marked the name of Brazil in the history of art in the world. The great composer was, for example, responsible for writing the lyrics for “Garota de Ipanema”, a Brazilian song with the greatest international renown.

But after all, who was Vinícius de Moraes (1913 - 1980)? Born in Rio de Janeiro, as a child, the little artist showed signs of what his profession would be, putting on plays at the school where he studied. Even so, the young Vinícius studied Law and graduated as a jurist, a title that allowed him to enter the world of Diplomacy.

However, it was in lyrics that he found his true passion. Vinícius de Moraes spoke of love and sensuality in his works, dedicated to the various women he had relationships with throughout his life, and his songs and sonnets about his passions are now part of the Brazilian imagination. After all, who didn't memorize at least one poem by Vinícius at school?

Still, we know that a significant part of the poet's life was dedicated to representing Brazil in different countries. What few know is that the figure of Vinícius de Moraes, a diplomat, was also born from female hands, it was his first wife, Tati de Moraes, who encouraged him to take the exam for the diplomatic career at Itamaraty, which he passed in the year 1943, assuming the position of vice-consul of Brazil in the United States, in the city of Los Angeles, in 1946.

Sparks of the intimacy of the artist's life at that time are revealed in this letter he wrote in the same year. In his words, Vinícius talks about the path he took to reach his first diplomatic post in California. Interestingly, in the letter, Vinícius also talks about Tati; He wants to take her to Los Angeles with the children as quickly as possible, because, according to him, he has been doing some stupid things that have driven the couple apart.

Vinícius was known throughout his life for having adventures with countless women, it is interesting, however, to see that these episodes had an impact on his daily life, after all, the poet lived not only through words. Coincidence, or not, it was for his first wife, Tati Martins, that Vinícius de Moraes wrote, still in 1946, the famous “Sonnet of Fidelity”, calling for a love “infinite while it lasts”.

Vinícius de Moraes was a man of letters, revealing, through them, his feelings and his loves, with the skill of a true poet's pen. But even though we know so much about his words, it is a delight to access his private sphere, those words written without the technical rigor of rhyme that uncover a common man, who traveled, visited cities, fell ill, was cured, moved, lived. Finally, the lives of masters are not limited to their work, and in the triviality of everyday life, we see that we share something with them, our existence, and the need to live it in all its fleetingness.

This letter is an intimate, unique and unprecedented testimony about the youth of the famous Brazilian poet and musician, when he was a diplomat in the United States.