Portuguese Art

by Sarah Blackburn

    Portuguese art is very closely related to that of Spain, but has also received a great deal of influence from its times under Roman, Visigoth, and Islamic rule.  Portuguese art mostly appears in the form of religious architecture.  However, paintings have been found in Portugal that date back to prehistory.  Escourial is the home to many Paleolithic cave paintings—considered to be some of the finest in South-West Europe.  Architectural ruins can be found in Portugal that date back to 6000 years ago in the Stone Age.  These ruins are mostly stone monoliths and burial chambers known as dolmens.  The largest dolmen in Europe can be found near Evora and is the Anta Grande do Zambujeiro (Great Dolmen of Zambujeiro).  The Roman rule of Portugal from around the 2^nd century BC to the 5^th century AD marked a time of great architectural advancement.  Besides the typical Roman municipal structures like roads and aqueducts, many villas and temples were constructed. 

    Muslim influence can be found in architecture following this period.  Between the 12^th and 14^th centuries, sculptors carved fantastic tombs out of limestone.  Perhaps the most famous is the Monastery at Alcobaça, which was founded by King Alfonso I in the 1100s and is representative of Cistercian Gothic art.  Dating from the early 16^th century, an important style of Portuguese art known as manueline was named for King Manuel who reigned from 1495-1521.  This type of architectural ornamentation combined existing Portuguese styles with Spanish, Italian, and Flemish ones.  The Chapter House of the Convent of Christ at Tomar is the foremost example of this style.  Portuguese art through the Renaissance and baroque periods also focused on Christianity.  The golden age of Portuguese art coincides with the golden age of exploration.  The art of this time was inspired by the maritime adventures of the Portuguese explorers.  The key painter of this age was Nuño Gonçalves, who was very influential in his use of realism.  Today, abstract Portuguese artists such as Maria Elena Vieira da Silva have received international recognition. 

Above picture is a Manueline monastery (From msn.encarta.com)