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- Title
Thomas Luis, a mannerist painter of the sacred and the profane: Art, conservation and restoration. Cases of Évora, Aldeia Galega, Elvas, Idanha-a-Nova and Vila Viçosa (16th to 17th centuries).
- Authors
CORDEIRO, Filipa Raposo
- Abstract
The goal of this thesis is to present an interdisciplinary and innovative study about the altarpieces and wall paintings by the English painter Thomas Luis (Thomas Lewis). These paintings, created between c. 1582 and c. 1603, are located in five areas in Portugal: Évora, the old Aldeia Galega (actual Montijo), Elvas, Idanha-a-Nova and Vila Viçosa. There are few studies about Thomas Luis, who has not been given sufficient recognition when compared with more productive painters (like Diogo Teixeira, Simão Rodrigues and Francisco João), in spite of his monumental paintings, which should be acknowledged, as they are unique. His paintings can be found in religious and private buildings. They show evidence that Thomas Luis's patrons had an erudite taste and culture, concurrent with the best that was produced not only in Portugal, but also abroad (in neighboring Spain, in Germany, in Flanders and Italy). Ten pictorial groups, composed of one hundred and seventy eight themes (including the ones that disappeared), are herein justified in terms of authorship, as being by Thomas Luis. The research method chosen was imposed by the object, that is, by the paintings themselves, which, in fact, "write" Thomas Luis biography. His masterpieces were studied in a pluridisciplinary way, through six perspectives: historic (space and time contexts, patrons and Maecenas); iconographical and iconological (exploring the meaning of sacred and profane themes in documents and literary sources); stylistic and artistic (showing possible influences, from various art fields - engraving, illumination, easel and wall paintings, tiles, wood and stone works -, in Thomas Luis work); material and technological, using surface and local methods of exam and analysis (MEA); "transmemorial" history (chronology of the alterations and Conservation and Restoration interventions, using MEA), Museology, proposing ways for a wider acquaintance of Thomas Luis work, exhibited in cultural places (church and museum), and Curadory, recommending not only "authenticity" criteria for the exhibition of sacred heritage, but also preventive conservation guide lines to ensure its lasting preservation, explaining the role played by the conservator-restorer in those areas. This work aims to acknowledge, preserve and project Thomas Luis work to a wider audience and promote the Cultural Heritage Tourism.
- Subjects
LEWIS, Thomas; ALTARPIECES; MANNERISM (Art)
- Publication
E-Journal of Portuguese History, 2019, Vol 17, Issue 2, p568
- ISSN
1645-6432
- Publication type
Abstract