Aleijadinho (c. 1738-1814)

Brazilian artist. He is generally considered to be the greatest Brazilian sculptor. Having lost the use of his hands, he sculpted with his tools strapped to them, hence his name which means ‘little cripple’. He worked in a restrained and dignified rococo style, exemplified in his finest piece The Twelve Prophets 1800-05, which stands outside the church of Bom Jesus de Matozinhos, Congonhas do Campo, Brazil.