The question of astrology in Fernando Pessoa's archives at the National Library of Portugal: critical considerations for the theory of Art History.

• Grant number: 25/10684-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: August 30, 2025
• End date: November 29, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Arts - Art Fundamentals and Criticism
• Principal Investigator: Cássio da Silva Fernandes
• Grantee: Antônio Leandro Gomes de Souza Barros
• Supervisor: Joana Matos Frias
• Host Institution: Escola de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (EFLCH). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Guarulhos. Guarulhos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/04845-4 - Aby Warburg and Fernando Pessoa: the question of astrology in the midst of the possibilities of Art History as science of expression., BP.PD

Abstract

This international research internship, to be conducted at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon (FLUL) and the National Library of Portugal (BNP), aims to deepen the investigation into the relationship between astrology and poetics in the work of Fernando Pessoa, in dialogue with the scholarship of German art historian Aby Warburg. The primary objective is to analyze Pessoa's astral charts and astrological texts from his archive, exploring how astrology informs his conception of art as "expression" and his critique of aestheticism. The methodology combines documentary analysis, interdisciplinary approaches, and collaborations with Portuguese researchers, such as Prof. Dr. Joana Matos Frias. The internship will provide access to unpublished documents, strengthen international cooperation, and contribute to consolidating a line of research in art history in Brazil. Findings will be disseminated through academic publications, conferences, audiovisual materials, and integration into teaching at UNIFESP, promoting knowledge transfer to both the academic community and the general public.