This eerie premonitory painting of a flood was created by an artist who died when floodwaters invaded his home a few years later.
Named ‘The Flood’, the piece was painted by Rodolpho Tamanini Netto, 73, in 2008.
The artist had a floodgate installed at his home, where he had lived since his childhood, in Vila Madalena, a bohemian neighbourhood in the West Zone of Sao Paulo, in Brazil.
But the gate was destroyed when a car, swept up by the flood on Friday, 24th January, crashed through it and allowed water to surge into the backyard of his home.
Distressing footage filmed by a neighbour shows the water rising outside the property during a heavy storm.
The water reportedly reached two metres (6.5 feet) high before it burst through the floodgate when he was in the backyard checking the rising water levels.
It is believed that he drowned.
Rodolpho’s lifeless body was found on Saturday morning, on 25th January. His wake took place on Monday, 27th January, in Sao Paulo.
The mayor of Sao Paulo, Ricardo Nunes, mourned the artist’s death.
He said: “We are deeply saddened. The 73-year-old man passed away in Beco do Batman, a region that is almost a valley, with water coming from many places,”
Nunes added: “We have tried to take some action there, but it is a difficult place, very impermeable, and a car ended up being dragged away, taking this person with it.. Obviously, we are deeply saddened.”
Frenchman Jacques Ardies, a curator of an art gallery that bears his name and where Rodolpho exhibited his works, said: “It is fate, I would say… Who are you going to hold responsible? The City Hall for not taking action?
“He knew the danger he was in when it rained. It was a battle of years.”
He added: “About 30 years ago, he had put this floodgate in front of the house to prevent rainwater from entering.
“In 2008, he painted the painting ‘The Flood’. It is not possible to know exactly what place he wanted to represent, but it shows the rain falling, people stranded on a cliff and inside a bus, and another trying to save himself in a boat.”
Rodolpho began showing his work in 1970, when he was 19, at the Folklore Museum, and the following year he exhibited in Germany.
Self-taught, he was initially mentored by the painter Lise Forell. In 1971, he held his first solo exhibition and, from 1975 onwards, he began participating in exhibitions in Brazil and around the world, such as in the UK, France and Switzerland.
The gallery said: “His themes are basically the city of Sao Paulo, which he portrays in a beautiful and attractive way; the seascapes of our coast, where man, generally naked, is represented perfectly integrated within a pure, beautiful and tranquil nature; and life in the favela interpreted as a pleasant place to live, full of children flying kites and cats on the roofs and playful dogs, the whole highlighted by the use of flat colours in sophisticated gradients.”
It added: “A uniquely talented artist with a remarkable expression, Rodolpho will forever leave an unforgettable legacy, not only for his work, but also for the extraordinary person he was.
“We join his family and friends in this time of deep sorrow, expressing our most sincere condolences. May Rodolpho rest in peace and may his memory live on in our hearts.”
The police are investigating Rodolpho’s death.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
