Independence or Death

Why it's great

Prince Pedro on horseback raises his sword and declares Brazil's independence from Portugal in 1822, as his guards cheer. Pedro Américo painted this famous scene in 1888. Every Brazilian knows it from school. It's the best-known image of Brazilian independence.

🏛️ Part of history

Independence & Revolutions (1820–1848) (1820–1848) — Brazil declares independence from Portugal in 1822: Prince Pedro raises his sword on the banks of the Ipiranga stream.

Where to see it

📍 Ipiranga MuseumSão Paulo, Brazil

Open in Maps ↗

Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 34,130 × 18,254 px · 623.0 megapixels · prints up to about 114 × 61 inches at 300 dpi Heads up: this is a huge scan, so the file can be hundreds of megabytes. Right-click and save it rather than opening it in a phone browser. File page & license ↗

Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:

💵 Budget Etsy ↗ Posters and simple prints from small sellers, usually the lowest prices. 🖼️ Mid-range Fine Art America ↗ Good printing on paper, canvas or metal, made to order, with framing options. 🏛️ High-end Meisterdrucke ↗ Museum-grade giclée prints on archival paper or canvas, the closest to the real thing.

These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.

About the artist

Pedro Américo

1843–1905 · born in Areia · died in Florence

Pedro Américo was a Brazilian painter born in 1843 in Paraíba. He studied in Paris and painted huge history pictures, including 'Independence or Death!' He also wrote books and was a politician. He died in Florence, Italy, in 1905.