Portuguese Azulejos

The Portuguese tiles (or azulejos), applied in churches, palaces and in the exterior of the buildings, according to a tradition of understanding architecture and space, become an identitary feature of Portuguese culture. Such heritage, initially visible through the application of hispano-moresque tiles at the end of the 15^th century, gained increasingly deeper roots. Throughout the five centuries long history of Portuguese tiles the alternate use, as well as the cohabitation, of patterned and figurative tiles has been a constant. The latter is usually the focus of greater attention, given the narrative potentials it entails.

The baroque period is almost featured by blue and white figurative painting, with tiles covering the interiors of the buildings, organized in scenographic and complex iconographic programs. To compose these figurative scenes the painters looked for inspiration in prints, but also in tapestries, textile, illuminations, goldsmithery, etc. So, the Portuguese tiles, and particularly, Portuguese baroque tiles, belong to a visual matrix present beyond, but also within European borders, with its long practice of painting inspired in models that circulated through engravings. Given that, Portuguese tiles are an important heritage when we consider the circulation of ideas, or the development of arts and cultural practices during the Baroque Era in Europe.

Arraiolos, former Church of the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Assunção or Convent of Lóios
Tiles signed by the painter Gabriel del Barco, in 1699/1700
Photo©: Francisco Queiroz/IPC

The project Az Infinitum is an online Azulejo Indexation and Referencing System, in permanent updating. It allows the recording of data regarding buildings, areas, wall coverings, authorships, bibliographic and documental references, images, etc., organised according to five major areas: In situ, Authors, Patterns, Iconography and Bibliography.

In this system, it is possible to find tiles from all centuries, that remains in situ (a fundamental aspect of this art, specifically conceived for the area where it is applied), organized by buildings such as churches, palaces, hospitals, convents and so on.

In a near future a search by chronology will be available as it will be the case for prints identified for each tile panel.

[Project developed by João Miguel dos Santos Simões Thematic Tilework and Ceramics Network - History of Art Institute, Faculty of Letters, University of Lisbon and Museu Nacional do Azulejo (Lisboa)]

URL: http://redeazulejo.fl.ul.pt/pesquisa-az

Lisbon, former College of Santo Antão-o-Novo, currently Hospital of São José, noble staircase c. 1730-1740