The murals were located at the Delegates' Entrance Lobby to the General Assembly Hall for a reason: the artist wanted the Ambassadors to walk up the stairs and to look at “War” - so they were reminded about the danger to avoid, and when leaving the General Assembly Hall they would come down the same stairs and look at “Peace” - to represent the goal they were striving for. They are about 14.32 metres (47.0 ft) tall and 10.66 metres (35.0 ft) large each. Oil on plywood.
The offer of the Brazilian Government to donate the murals was made in 1952 and it was accepted the same year by the first Secretary-General Trygve Lie. The preliminary sketches were approved by the United Nations Board of Art Advisers in February 1953. The completed murals arrived at United Nations Headquarters in 1956. Work on hanging the murals started on 12 July 1957.
In describing the mural "War" the artist said that, "War today is no longer a battlefield; it is human suffering, torn fields, ruined cities, women and children sacrificed, the world shattered by cataclysms; its desolation is swept by the wind of insanity, of madness…" The mural does not feature any weapons, but instead features the suffering of victims from war. Mister Portinari said that the mural "Peace" was inspired by the ideal state of serenity and peacefulness of the spirit described in "The Eumenides" by Aeschylus. Using what he called "simple and pure forms”, bathed in light, his mural of Peace suggests a "brotherhood of understanding amongst human beings”.
Candido Portinare reportedly sacrificed his own health for the murals, as during the long term process of creating the artworks he became increasingly sick because of the paint he used. Doctors had warned him about being intoxicated due to inhalation, which would cause a decline in his health. Despite this, the artist was decided and dedicated in finishing the masterpieces, through which he hoped to send a message to the world. He was able to complete these timeless murals, though, this cost him his life: he died on 6 February 1962 due to lead intoxication.
Candido Portinari was banned from entering the US to inaugurate his panels due to his participation in the Communist Party.
The murals were restaured in Brazil and re-inaugurated at the UN Headquarters on 8 September 2015. The re-inauguration was celebrated in the presence of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and several heads of states and governments as well as iconic artists. During the event the guests shared a moment of silence in order to honour the artist and his work.