Desterro Convent, the oldest nuns’ convent built in Brazil, seems illuminated by golden rays. In the foreground on the left, one of the corners of the wall of São Francisco Convent is visible.

The center of the picture is Desterro’s tower. Desterro’s building occupies most of the canvas, but one can see the trees scattered in São Francisco convent’s orchard, as well as its vegetable garden where the painter set up his easel. The trees and vegetable garden are like a poetic frame to the monumental building that is in a more distant perspective.

Architect Diógenes Rebouças commented that this was an art piece that demanded a lot of work: “a painting that reminds Cézanne’s influence, not only in its colors, but also due to its sunlight vibrations”.