BIOGRAPHY

José Neves Catela, son of Anselmo José Catela and Maria Emília Neves, was born at Alpiarça, Ribatejo (Portugal) in 1902.

When he was 23 years old, José, a Portuguese Merchant Marine naval officer, came to Macau as captain of a ship sailing between Macau and Saigon.

Afterwards, as the ship was sold and had it's flag changed, Catela was admitted into the Public Works Department (Harbour and Propaganda Works and, later, worked for the Tourism and Propaganda Section).

Five years after his arrival in Macau (on 31 January 1931), José Catela married Melina Angélica Ayres da Silva, from Macau.

When he got married, Catela was working for the Inspection of Economical Service and lived at Rua Inácio Baptista. Their three offspring were Maria Teresa Augusta, José e Maria da Graça.

He created the Macau Cultural Circle, as he appreciated photography and was in charge of both its photography section and magazine MOSAICO. Besides being a public servant, he became very active as a photo reporter. He contributed to several American and English newspapers and magazines. Catela took pictures of Macau in its multiple dimensions: its historical heritage, its people and its traditions, thus preserving in silver images, the characteristics of a city that he deeply loved.

In the 30's, accordingly to Henrique Senna Fernandes, it was "a privilege to have a photo taken by Catela. I had my photo taken by Catela when I was nine years old and my brother and my cousin Fernando as well. He was Macau's best photographer! Those were my best photos!" Senna also says that Catela's home and his atelier were part of the same building where the Main Library is located nowadays.

He was the owner of Photo Art Catela, located at 89A Rua Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida, as stated in 'Anuário de Macau' (Macau Yearbook), dated 1936, chapter Photography/Photographers (at that time, there were just six photo shops). This yearbook was illustrated with his photos - since his name "Catela" is displayed at the right bottom. However, he also used to distinguish his work with a white stamp 'Catela Macau'.

José Catela died at St. Raphael's hospital (today the Consulate General of Portugal) in 1951, at 49 years of age, and is buried at the São Miguel Arcanjo Cemetery.

MARGARIDA SARAIVA