Delfina Benigna da Cunha

Delfina Benigna da Cunha (1791–1857) was a Brazilian poet. Her works reflected the increasing socio-political participation of Brazilian women through literary and journalistic production. da Cunha explored gender as well as imperial and national identities. She is also cited as a leading figure in the development of Gaucho literature.

da Cunha, a blind poet, was a subject of Stella Leonardos' work Romanceiro de Anita e Garibaldi e Romaceiro de Delfina.

Biography da Cunha was born on June 17, 1791, in São José do Norte, a municipality in Rio Grande do Sul. Her parents were Maria de Paula e Cunha and Joaquim Francisco da Cunha Sa e Meneses, who was a monarchist military official. da Cunha lost her vision after she contracted smallpox when she was 20 months old.

She would later receive a pension due to her father's service to the crown. Her book Poesias oferecidas às senhoras rio-grandenses was the first ever publication printed in Rio Grande Sul. Some accounts of her life and works survived due to the work of Stella Leonardos, who used her biography and literary contributions in her own poetry.

da Cunha died on 13 April 1857 in Rio de Janeiro. In 1994, Stella Leonardos published O romanceiro de Delfina, by the State Book Institute, a historical novel with the poet as its protagonist.

Poetry da Cunha's poetry often featured mythological elements and this was attributed to her classical education, which was predominant during her time. Recurring themes included eulogy, passion, romance, and patriotism. She was particularly critical of Bento Gonçalves. Poesias oferecidas às senhoras brasileiras (1838) Coleção de várias poesias (dedicada à imperatriz viúva). Rio de Janeiro: Tipografia Laemmert's, 1846.