Thank you- I genuinely appreciate feedback on it- it’s completely unlike my typical work in every sense, and was a somewhat disturbing project. I’d hoped the positive side of Diego’s personality and spirit would somehow emerge, but all I see when I look at it is despair.

Same. I’d seen it on a couple of occasions on reddit, but never looked further into the story of the child until asked to make a painting from the image.

It’s such a sad story, and only gets worse the more you read about how much suffering this child endured.

The Crying Violinist

Diego Frazao Torquato was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1997. Although diagnosed with leukemia at age four, Diego dreamed of becoming a world-renown violinist. Overcome with grief at his murdered mentor’s funeral, Diego was photographed crying while playing violin.

Diego Torquato tragically died at age 13. His wish to be known as a great violinist lives on in images left behind.