Francisco Vieira de Matos, better known as Vieira Lusitano (1699-1783), was the most renowned painter in Portuguese art for a large part of the eighteenth century. He trained in Rome, which he first visited at the tender age of twelve, and spent two periods of time there, the second in 1721, when he studied under eminent Italian masters. In 1733, now back in Lisbon, he became royal painter to King João V. Having trained as a historical painter, the kind of commissions he received meant that most of his work was devoted to religious themes and portraits. His work as a draughtsman, internationally acclaimed during his lifetime, and as an etcher is no less noteworthy. Some of his pupils identified with the master’s works to such an extent that they produced very close copies of them.
This exhibition displays drawings and prints with themes based on classical mythology and allegories. Among the prints exhibited, we find works engraved by Vieira himself, as well as others in which he was merely the creator of the composition, with the engraving carried out by other artists.

CURATOR
Alexandra Gomes Markl


Exhibition booklet