Brazilian architecture

The first substantial buildings in Brazil were Christian churches built by the Jesuits: the church of S Bento in Rio de Janeiro (1652) is in early baroque style. The second half of the 18th century saw the flowering of a variation of baroque unique to Brazil; for example, the church of the Bom Jesus at Congonhas do Campo (1777). A number of European styles were imported during the 1800s. From the early 20th-century, Brazilian architecture reflects the huge impact of the Modern Movement. The works of Oscar Neimeyer and Lucio Costa (1902-98), initially influenced by Le Corbusier, subsequently took on an exuberance of their own, rarely seen in modern architecture. Costa's most renowned work is his plan for Brasília (1957), the new state capital.