José Anastácio da Cunha

Category: Nature > Garden

District: Lisboa > Oeiras > Tapada do Mocho > Bairro do Bugio

Location

The monument dedicated to José Anastácio da Cunha is located in the municipality of Oeiras, within the vast and renowned Parque dos Poetas, in the Tapada do Mocho area. This space, conceived as a tribute to Portuguese literature and culture, offers an environment conducive to reflection. Its privileged location allows for enjoyment of extensive views over the surrounding urban landscape, stretching towards the mouth of the Tagus River and the Atlantic Ocean, lending a scenic backdrop to the presence of this literary figure.

A Multidisciplinary Intellectual

José Anastácio da Cunha, born in Lisbon in 1744, was a notable figure of the 18th century, with a brilliant mind that encompassed multiple fields of knowledge. His career included being a military man and a recognized professor of mathematics and geometry. However, it was his facet as a poet and translator that most distinguished him, revealing a critical spirit and an innovative sensibility. His literary work is a fascinating transitional point in Portuguese poetry, still incorporating the elegance of Neoclassicism, but already announcing the depth and emotion that would come to characterize Romanticism. His poems, many of them in classical forms such as sonnets and odes, reflect a sharp intelligence and a profound understanding of the human condition.

Legacy and Persistence

José Anastácio da Cunha's life was marked by his intellectual daring and the courage of his convictions. His independent thinking and his interventionist poetry earned him political persecution, making him a symbol of the struggle for freedom of expression in his time. The sculptural representation of this thinker in the Parque dos Poetas is, therefore, a tribute not only to his undeniable contribution to literature and mathematics but also to his remarkable resilience. The monument invites remembrance of a man who, despite adversity, dedicated his life to knowledge and art, leaving a legacy that continues to echo in Portuguese culture.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt