In 1883, Ruy Barbosa, at the height of his political activity, spoke with his cousin about medical matters.
- Handwritten letter from Ruy Barbosa to Antonio de Araujo Ferreira Jacobina.
- One sheet, two pages and the original envelope.
- 21.5 cm x 26.8 cm
- In Portuguese.
- Sao Paulo, November 28, 1883.
- Good condition of conservation.
- Unique piece.
The history of Brazil is full of iconic figures who shaped the country's course. Among them, Ruy Barbosa (1849-1923) stands out, a multifaceted personality who played a crucial role in Brazilian politics during the late Empire and early Republic.
He contributed greatly to the drafting of the first Republican Constitution, establishing principles such as the separation of powers, the democratic rule of law, individual guarantees against state arbitrariness and the supremacy of the Constitution, in addition to strengthening the role of the Supreme Federal Court. For all these reasons, he is considered the patron saint of Brazilian lawyers.
In general, Barbosa understood the need for a modern country to be more egalitarian. He is well known for being one of the leaders of the abolitionist movement, with an essential role in the drafting of the Lei Áurea (Golden Law), but, in my opinion, he was also very decisive for Brazil in the field of education.
He defended free public education, which he considered the main instrument for the country's development. He also created the Ministry of Education, secularized education, made primary education compulsory, created normal schools for teacher training, among other initiatives.
In this long letter, written from the Polytechnic School of São Paulo, with the court stamp, Barbosa appears to report that he underwent surgery and mentions a medical treatment and a therapeutic formula, but it was not possible to understand the context.
The recipient is Antonio de Araujo Ferreira Jacobina (1829-1896), also an intellectual and cousin of Barbosa, another educator who created an innovative method of teaching reading.
This long letter dates from 1883, a very intense period for Ruy Barbosa, who was engaged in educational reform and the debate on the abolition of slavery, among other issues. I also liked his name printed and his signature at the bottom of the second page.
Ruy Barbosa, from Bahia, is one of the greatest personalities of Brazil and, one hundred years after his death, continues to influence the country's legal and political thinking. His thoughts remain relevant to the current situation in Brazil, a country that needs to learn to be committed to fundamental rights, the functioning of the Republic and the autonomy of its powers and democratic institutions.
Letters from Barbosa appear very rarely on the market, almost all of them are preserved by the Fundação Casa de Ruy Barbosa.
