Bridge of the Jesuits, Rio de Janeiro (RJ): an analysis of its elements based on the integration of textual, iconographic and petrographic records

ABSTRACT Considered as the most important Brazilian engineering work of the 18th century, the Jesuits Bridge was built by Ignatian priests as part of a drainage and irrigation complex system at Santa Cruz Farm, in the west side of Rio de Janeiro City. This work is the first systematic study of the bridge with the intent of identifying changes of original features by integrating texts, images and petrographic analyses of rocks used as stonework. The results show that interventions occurred at different times and allowed to identify the functions of some of the bridge’s constructive elements.