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Title: Portuguese Architecture
Author: Walter Crum Watson
Release date: July 10, 2009 [eBook #29370]
Most recently updated: January 5, 2021
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PORTUGUESE ARCHITECTURE ***
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PORTUGUESE
ARCHITECTURE
by
WALTER CRUM WATSON
ILLUSTRATED
LONDON
ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND COMPANY
LIMITED
1908
Edinburgh: T. and A. Constable, Printers to His Majesty
AOS MEUS QUERIDOS PARENTES E AMIGOS
A ILLMA E EXMA SNRA
M. L. DOS PRADOS LARGOS
E OS
ILLMOS E EXMOS SNRES
BARONEZA E BARÃO DE SOUTELLINHO
COMO RECONHECIMENTO PELAS AMABILIDADES E ATTENÇÕES
QUE ME DISPENSARAM NOS BELLOS DIAS QUE PASSEI
NA SUA COMPANHIA
COMO HOMENAGEM RESPEITOSA
O.D.C.
O AUCTOR
PREFACE
The buildings of Portugal, with one or two exceptions, cannot be said to excel or even to come up to those of other countries. To a large extent the churches are without the splendid furniture which makes those of Spain the most romantic in the world, nor are they in themselves so large or so beautiful. Some apology, then, may seem wanted for imposing on the public a book whose subject-matter is not of first-class importance.
The present book is the outcome of visits to Portugal in April or May of three successive years; and during these visits the writer became so fond of the country and of its people, so deeply interested in the history of its glorious achievements in the past, and in the buildings which commemorate these great deeds, that it seemed worth while to try and interest others in them. Another reason for writing about Portugal instead of about Spain is that the country is so much smaller that it is no very difficult task to visit every part and see the various buildings with one's own eyes: besides, in no language does there exist any book dealing with the architecture of the country as a whole. There are some interesting monographs in Portuguese about such buildings as the palace at Cintra, or Batalha, while the Renaissance has been fully treated by Albrecht Haupt, but no one deals at all adequately with what came before the time of Dom Manoel.
Most of the plans in the book were drawn from rough measurements taken on the spot and do not pretend to minute accuracy.
For the use of that of the Palace at Cintra the thanks of the writer are due to Conde de Sabugosa, who allowed it to be copied from his book, while the plan of Mafra was found in an old magazine.
Thanks are also due to Senhor Joaquim de Vasconcellos for much valuable information, to his wife, Senhora Michaelis de Vasconcellos, for her paper about the puzzling inscriptions at Batalha, and above all the Baron and the Baroneza de Soutellinho, for their repeated welcome to Oporto and for the trouble they have taken in getting books and photographs.
That the book may be more complete there has been added a short account of some of the church plate and paintings which still survive, as well as of the tile work which is so universal and so characteristic.
As for the buildings, hardly any of any consequence have escaped notice.
Edinburgh, 1907.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
| PAGE | |
| Portugal separated from Spain by no natural division geographical or linguistic; does not correspond with Roman Lusitania, nor with the later Suevic kingdom—Traces of early Celtic inhabitants; Citania, Sabrosa—Roman Occupation; Temple at Evora—Barbarian Invasions—Arab Conquest—Beginnings of Christian re-conquest—Sesnando, first Count of Oporto—Christians defeated at Zalaca—Count Henry of Burgundy and Dona Theresa—Beginnings of Portuguese Independence—Affonso Henriques, King of Portugal—Growth of Portugal—Victory of Aljubarrota—Prince Henry the Navigator—The Spanish Usurpation—The Great Earthquake—The Peninsular War—The Miguelite War—The suppression of the Monasteries—Differences between Portugal and Spain, etc. | 1-10 |
| Painting in Portugal | |
| Not very many examples of Portuguese paintings left—Early connection with Burgundy; and with Antwerp—Great influence of Flemish school—The myth of Grão Vasco—Pictures at Evora, at Thomar, at Setubal, in Santa Cruz, Coimbra—'The Fountain of Mercy' at Oporto—The pictures at Vizeu: 'St. Peter'—Antonio de Hollanda | 10-17 |
| Church Plate | |
| Much plate lost during the Peninsular War—Treasuries of Braga, Coimbra, and Evora, and of Guimarães—Early chalices, etc., at Braga, Coimbra, and Guimarães—Crosses at Guimarães and at Coimbra—Relics of St. Isabel—Flemish influence seen in later work—Tomb of St. Isabel, and coffins of sainted abbesses of Lorvão | 17-20 |
| Tiles | |
| Due to Arab influence—The word azulejo and its origin—The different stages in the development of tile making—Early tiles at Cintra Moorish in pattern and in technique—Tiles at Bacalhôa Moorish in technique but Renaissance in pattern—Later tiles without Moorish technique, e.g. at Santarem and elsewhere—Della Robbia ware at Bacalhôa—Pictures in blue and white tiles very common | 20-28 |
| CHAPTER I | |
| EARLY BUILDINGS IN THE NORTH | |
| The oldest buildings are in the North—Very rude and simple—Three types—Villarinho—São Miguel, Guimarães—Cedo Feita, Oporto—Gandara, Boelhe, etc., are examples of the simplest—Aguas Santas, Rio Mau, etc., of the second; and of the third Villar de Frades, etc.—Legend of Villar—Sé, Braga—Sé, Oporto—Paço de Souza—Method of roofing—Tomb of Egas Moniz—Pombeiro—Castle and Church, Guimarães | 29-43 |
| CHAPTER II | |
| EARLY BUILDINGS IN THE SOUTH | |
| Growth of Christian kingdom under Affonso Henriques—His vow—Capture of Santarem, of Lisbon—Cathedral, Lisbon, related to Church of S. Sernin, Toulouse—Ruined by Great Earthquake, and badly restored—Sé Velha, Coimbra, general scheme copied from Santiago and so from S. Sernin, Toulouse—Other churches at Coimbra—Evora, its capture—Cathedral founded—Similar in scheme to Lisbon, but with pointed arches; central lantern; cloister—Thomar founded by Gualdim Paes; besieged by Moors—Templar Church—Santarem, Church of São João de Alporão—Alcobaça; great wealth of Abbey—Designed by French monks—Same plan as Clairvaux—Has but little influence on later buildings | 44-63 |
| CHAPTER III | |
| THIRTEENTH AND FOURTEENTH CENTURIES DOWN TO THE BATTLE OF ALJUBARROTA | |
| The thirteenth century poor in buildings—The Franciscans—São Francisco Guimarães—Santarem—Santa Maria dos Olivaes at Thomar—Cf. aisle windows at Leça do Balio—Inactivity and deposition of Dom Sancho ii. by Dom Affonso iii.—Conquest of Algarve—Sé, Silves—Dom Diniz and the castles at Beja and at Leiria—Cloisters, Cellas, Coimbra, Alcobaça, Lisbon, and Oporto—St. Isabel and Sta. Clara at Coimbra—Leça do Balio—The choir of the cathedral, Lisbon, with tombs—Alcobaça, royal tombs—Dom Pedro i. and Inez de Castro; her murder, his sorrow—Their tombs | 64-78 |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| AND THE DELIVERANCE OF PORTUGAL | |
| Dom Fernando and Dona Leonor Telles—Her wickedness and unpopularity—Their daughter, Dona Brites, wife of Don Juan of Castile, rejected—Dom João i. elected king—Battle of Aljubarrota—Dom João's vow—Marriage of Dom João and Philippa of Lancaster—Batalha founded; its plan national, not foreign; some details seem English, some French, some even German—Huguet the builder did not copy York or Canterbury—Tracery very curious—Inside very plain—Capella do Fundador, with the royal tombs—Capellas Imperfeitas | 79-92 |
| CHAPTER V | |
| EARLIER FIFTEENTH CENTURY | |
| Nossa Senhora da Oliveira Guimarães rebuilt as a thankoffering—Silver reredos captured at Aljubarrota—The cathedral, Guarda—Its likeness to Batalha—Nave later—Nuno Alvarez Pereira, the Grand Constable, and the Carmo, Lisbon—João Vicente and Villar de Frades—Alvito, Matriz—Capture of Ceuta—Tombs in the Graça, Santarem—Dom Pedro de Menezes and his 'Aleo'—Tomb of Dom Duarte de Menezes in São João de Alporão—Tombs at Abrantes cloister—Thomar | 93-103 |
| CHAPTER VI | |
| GOTHIC | |
| Graça, Santarem—Parish churches, Thomar, Villa do Conde, Azurara and Caminha, all similar in plan—Cathedrals: Funchal, Lamego, and Vizeu—Porch and chancel of cathedral, Braga—Conceição, Braga | 104-115 |
| CHAPTER VII | |
| INFLUENCE OF THE MOORS | |
| Few buildings older than the re-conquest—But many built for Christians by Moors—The Palace, Cintra—Originally country house of the Walis—Rebuilt by Dom João i.—Plan and details Moorish—Entrance court—Sala dos Cysnes, why so called, its windows; Sala do Conselho; Sala das Pegas, its name, chimney-piece; Sala das Sereias; dining-room; Pateo, baths; Sala dos Arabes; Pateo de Diana; chapel; kitchen—Castles at Guimarães and at Barcellos—Villa de Feira | 116-128 |
| CHAPTER VIII | |
| MOORISH BUILDINGS | |
| Commoner in Alemtejo—Castle, Alvito—Not Sansovino's Palace—Evora, Paços Reaes, Cordovis, Sempre Nova, São João Evangelista, São Francisco, São Braz | 129-135 |
| CHAPTER IX | |
| CARPENTRY | |
| Examples found all over the country—At Aguas Santas, Azurara, Caminha and Funchal—Cintra, Sala dos Cysnes, Sala dos Escudos—Coimbra, Misericordia, hall of University—Ville do Conde Santa Clara, Aveiro convent | 136-142 |
| CHAPTER X | |
| MANOELINO | |
| João ii. continues the policy of Prince Henry the Navigator—Bartholomeu Diaz, Vasco da Gama—Accession of Dom Manoel—Discovery of route to India, and of Brazil—Great wealth of King—Fails to unite all the kingdoms of the Peninsula—Characteristic features of Manoelino—House of Garcia de Resende, Evora—Caldas da Rainha—Setubal, Jesus—Beja, Conceição, Castle, etc.—Cintra, Palace—Gollegã, Church—Elvas, Cathedral—Santarem, Marvilla—Lisbon, Madre de Deus—Coimbra, University Chapel—Setubal, São Julião | 143-156 |
| CHAPTER XI | |
| AND THE CONQUEST OF INDIA | |
| Vasco da Gama's successful voyage to Calicut, 1497—Other expeditions lead to discovery of Brazil—Titles conferred on Dom Manoel by Pope Alexander vi.—Ormuz taken—Strange forms at Thomar not Indian—Templars suppressed and Order of Christ founded instead—Prince Henry Grand Master—Spiritual supremacy of Thomar over all conquests, made or to be made—Templar church added to by Prince Henry, and more extensively by Dom Manoel—João de Castilho builds Coro—Stalls burnt by French—South door, chapter-house and its windows—Much of the detail emblematic of the discoveries, etc., made in the East and in the West | 157-170 |
| CHAPTER XII | |
| ADDITIONS TO BATALHA | |
| Dom Duarte's tomb-house unfinished—Work resumed by Dom Manoel—The two Matheus Fernandes, architects—The Pateo—The great entrance—Meaning of 'Tanyas Erey'—Piers in Octagon—How was the Octagon to be roofed?—The great Cloister, with its tracery—Whence derived | 171-180 |
| CHAPTER XIII | |
| BELEM | |
| Torre de São Viente built to defend Lisbon—Turrets and balconies not Indian—Vasco da Gama sails from Belem—The great monastery built as a thankoffering for the success of his voyage—Begun by Boutaca, succeeded by Lourenço Fernandes, and then by João de Castilho—Plan due to Boutaca—Master Nicolas, the Frenchman, the first renaissance artist in Portugal—Plan: exterior; interior superior to exterior; stalls; cloister, lower and upper—Lisbon, Conceição Velha, also by João de Castilho | 181-195 |
| CHAPTER XIV | |
| COMING OF THE FOREIGN ARTISTS | |
| Coimbra, Sta. Cruz, founded by Dom Affonso Henriques, rebuilt by Dom Manoel, first architect Marcos Pires—Gregorio Lourenço clerk of the works—Diogo de Castilho succeeds Marcos Pires—West front, Master Nicolas—Cloister, inferior to that of Belem—Royal tombs—Other French carvers—Pulpit, reredoses in cloister, stalls—Sé Velha reredos, doors—Chapel of São Pedro | 196-210 |
| CHAPTER XV | |
| INFLUENCE OF THE FOREIGNERS | |
| Tomb at Thomar of the Bishop of Funchal—Tomb in Graça, Santarem—São Marcos, founded by Dona Brites de Menezes—Tomb of Fernão Telles—Rebuilt by Ayres da Silva, her grandson—Tombs in chancel—Reredos, by Master Nicolas—Reredos at Cintra—Pena Chapel by same—São Marcos, Chapel of the Reyes Magos—Sansovino's door, Cintra—Evora, São Domingos—Portalegre, Tavira, Lagos, Goes, Trofa, Caminha, Moncorvo | 211-221 |
| CHAPTER XVI | |
| WORK OF JOÃO DE CASTILHO AND EARLIER CLASSIC | |
| João iii. cared more for the Church than for anything else—Decay begins—Later additions to Alcobaça—Batalha, Sta. Cruz—Thomar, Order of Christ reformed—Knights become regulars—Great additions, cloisters, dormitory, etc., by João de Castilho—His difficulties, letters to the King—His addition to Batalha—Builds Conceição at Thomar like Milagre, Santarem—Marvilla, ibid.; Elvas, São Domingos—Cintra, Penha Longa and Penha Verde—Vizeu, Cloister—Lamego, Cloister—Coimbra, São Thomaz—Carmo—Faro—Lorvão—Amarante—Santarem, Santa Clara, and Guarda, reredos | 222-239 |
| CHAPTER XVII | |
| LATER RENAISSANCE AND THE SPANISH USURPATION | |
| Diogo de Torralva and Claustro dos Filippes, Thomar—Miranda de Douro—Reigns of Dom Sebastião and of the Cardinal King Henry not noted for much building—Evora, Graça and University—Fatal expedition by Dom Sebastião to Morocco—His death and defeat—Feeble reign of his grand-uncle—Election of Philip—Union with Spain and consequent loss of trade—Lisbon, São Roque; coming of Terzi—Lisbon, São Vicente de Fora; first use of very long Doric pilasters—Santo Antão, Santa Maria do Desterro, and Torreão do Paço—Sé Nova, Coimbra, like Santo Antão—Oporto, Collegio Novo—Coimbra, Misericordia, Bishop's palace; Sacristy of Sé Velha, São Domingos, Carmo, Graça, São Bento by Alvares—Lisbon, São Bento—Oporto, São Bento | 240-253 |
| CHAPTER XVIII | |
| BUILDINGS OF THE LATER RENAISSANCE, TILL THE EXPULSION OF THE SPANIARDS | |
| Vianna do Castello, Misericordia—Beja, São Thiago—Azeitão, São Simão—Evora, Cartuxa—Beja, Misericordia—Oporto, Nossa Senhora da Serra do Pilar—Sheltered Wellington before he crossed the Douro—Besieged by Dom Miguel—Very original plan—Coimbra, Sacristy of Santa Cruz—Lisbon, Santa Engracia never finished—Doric pilasters too tall—Coimbra, Santa Clara, great abuse of Doric pilasters | 254-260 |
| CHAPTER XIX | |
| RESTORATION AND THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY | |
| The expulsion of the Spaniards—Long war: final success of Portugal and recovered prosperity—Mafra founded by Dom João v.—Compared with the Escorial—Designed by a German—Palace, church, library, etc.—Evora, Capella Mor—Great Earthquake—The Marques de Pombal—Lisbon, Estrella—Oporto, Torre dos Clerigos—Oporto, Quinta do Freixo—Queluz—Quinta at Guimarães—Oporto, hospital and factory—Defeat of Dom Miguel and suppression of monasteries | 261-271 |
| BOOKS CONSULTED | 272 |
| INDEX | 273 |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| To face page | ||
| 1. | Guimarães, House from Sabrosa | } 4 |
| 2. | Evora, Temple of 'Diana' | |
| 3. | Oporto, Fountain of Mercy | 14 |
| 4. | Vizeu, St. Peter, in Sacristy of Cathedral | } 16 |
| 5. | Coimbra, Cross in Cathedral Treasury | |
| 6. | " Chalice " " | } 20 |
| 7. | " Monstrance " " | |
| 8. | Cintra, Palace, Sala dos Arabes | } 24 |
| 9. | " " Dining-room | |
| 10. | Santarem, Marvilla, coloured wall tiles | } frontispiece. |
| 11. | " " | |
| 12. | Vallarinho, Parish Church | } 32 |
| 13. | Villar de Frades, West Door | |
| 14. | Paço de Souza, Interior of Church | } 40 |
| 15. | " " Tomb of Egas Moniz | |
| 16. | Guimarães, N. S. da Oliveira, Chapter-house Entrance | } 42 |
| 17. | Leça do Balio, Cloister | |
| 18. | Coimbra, Sé Velha, Interior | } 50 |
| 19. | " " West Front | |
| 20. | Evora, Cathedral, Interior | } 54 |
| 21. | " " Central Lantern | |
| 22. | Evora, Cloister | } 56 |
| 23. | Thomar, Templar Church | |
| 24. | Santarem, São João de Alporão | } 58 |
| 25. | Alcobaça, South Transept | |
| 26. | Santarem, São Francisco, West Door | } 66 |
| 27. | Silves, Cathedral, Interior | |
| 28. | Alcobaça Cloister | } 72 |
| 29. | Lisbon, Cathedral Cloister | |
| 30. | Coimbra, Sta. Clar | 74 |
| 31. | Alcobaça, Chapel with Royal Tombs | } 78 |
| 32. | " Tomb of Dom Pedro i. | |
| 33. | Batalha, West Fron | 86 |
| 34. | Batalha, Interior | } 88 |
| 35. | " Capella do Fundador | |
| 36. | Batalha, Capellas Imperfeita | 92 |
| 37. | Guimarães, Capella of D. Juan i. of Castile | } 94 |
| 38. | Guarda, North Side of Cathedral | |
| 39. | Santarem, Tomb of Dom Pedro de Menezes | } 102 |
| 40. | " Tomb of Dom Duarte de Menezes | |
| 41. | Villa do Conde, West Front of Parish Churc | 108 |
| 42. | Vizeu, Interior of Cathedral | } 112 |
| 43. | Braga, Cathedral Porch | |
| 44. | Cintra, Palace, Main Front | } 120 |
| 45. | " " Window in 'Sala das Sereias' | |
| 46. | Cintra, Palace, Ceiling of Chape | 126 |
| 47. | Alvito, Castle | } 132 |
| 48. | Evora, São João Evangelista, Door to Chapter-house | |
| 49. | Caminha, Roof of Matriz | } 138 |
| 50. | Cintra, Palace, Ceiling of Sala dos Cysnes | |
| 51. | Coimbra, University, Ceiling of Sala dos Capello | 142 |
| 52. | Cintra, Palace, additions by D. Manoe | 152 |
| 53. | Santarem, Marvilla, West Door | } 154 |
| 54. | Coimbra, University Chapel Door | |
| 55. | Thomar, Convent of Christ, South Door | } 166 |
| 56. | " " " Chapter-house Window | |
| 57. | Batalha, Entrance to Capellas Imperfeita | 174 |
| 58. | Batalha, Window of Pateo | } 178 |
| 59. | " Upper part of Capellas Imperfeitas | |
| 60. | Batalha, Claustro Real | } 180 |
| 61. | Batalha, Lavatory in Claustro Real | |
| 62. | Belem, Torre de São Vicente | } 184 |
| 63. | Belem, Sacristy | |
| 64. | Belem, South side of Nave | } 190 |
| 65. | " Interior, looking west | |
| 66. | Belem, Cloister | } 194 |
| 67. | " Interior of Lower Cloister | |
| 68. | Lisbon, Conceição Velh | 196 |
| 69. | Coimbra, Sta. Cruz, West Front | } 200 |
| 70. | " " Cloister | |
| 71. | Coimbra, Sta. Cruz, Tomb of D. Sancho i. | } 202 |
| 72. | " " Pulpit | |
| 73. | Coimbra, Sta. Cruz, Reredos in Cloister | } 206 |
| 74. | " " Choir Stalls | |
| 75. | Coimbra, Sé Velha, Reredos | } 209 |
| 76. | " " Reredos in Chapel of São Pedro | |
| 77. | Thomar, Sta. Maria dos Olivaes, Tomb of the Bishop of Funchal | } 212 |
| 78. | São Marcos, Tomb of D. João da Silva | |
| 79. | São Marcos, Chancel | } 218 |
| 80. | " Chapel of the 'Reyes Magos' | |
| 81. | Cintra, Palace, Door by Sansovino | } 220 |
| 82. | Caminha, West Door of Church | |
| 83. | Alcobaça, Sacristy Door | } 224 |
| 84. | Batalha, Door of Sta. Cruz | |
| 85. | Thomar, Claustro da Hospedaria | } 228 |
| 86. | " Chapel in Dormitory Passage | |
| 87. | Thomar, Stair in Claustro dos Filippes | } 230 |
| 88. | " Chapel of the Conceição | |
| 89. | Santarem, Marvilla, Interior | } 236 |
| 90. | Vizeu, Cathedral Cloister | |
| 91. | Guarda, Cathedral Reredos | } 240 |
| 92. | Thomar, Claustro dos Filippes | |
| 93. | Lisbon, São Vicente de Fora | } 246 |
| 94. | " " " Interior | |
| 95. | Coimbra, Sé Nova | } 250 |
| 96. | " Misericordia | |
| 97. | Vianna do Castello, Misericordi | 254 |
| 98. | Oporto, N. S. da Serra do Pilar, Cloister | } 258 |
| 99. | Coimbra, Sta. Cruz, Sacristy | |
| 100. | Mafra, West Front | } 266 |
| 101. | " Interior of Church | |