Azulejos in Lisbon : History and places to see
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- čas přidán 4. 06. 2020
- Impossible to talk about Lisbon without mentioning azulejos, simply translated “tiles” in English.
Those earthenware or tiles are inseparable from the Portuguese capital and its magnetic charm.
But do you know where they come from? What is their history? Where can you find them, where to buy them or make them yourselves? Do they only have an esthetical interest?
It is in Bagdad in the 9th century that earthenware is discovered, it is the beginning of pottery made out of enameled or varnished clay which gives artists free rein.
Glazed clay spread on either sides of Egypt and Persia, then via North Africa to Spain.
Glazed clay was then decorated in a geometric and non figurative manner. Islam is iconoclastic, it forbids icons, idoles and any figurative representation. Those are the azulejos that you will see in Seville for example.
From the Moorish then Christian Spain, glazed clay joins Italy in the Renaissance. In Italy, painters decorated the objects’ surface with Mythological, allegorical and biblical scenes.
In 1500, it was Italian potters’ turn to settle in the Netherlands in Anvers, then Delft. The future capital of the European earthenware..m
During the same period, the powerful Portuguese King Manuel I discovers the Moorish azulejos in Seville and Saragossa. Nothing will be the same ever again.
From 1600, the Dutch West Indies Company, the first private, modern and international company in the world, established trade relationships with China.
Chinese porcelain became a massive hit in Europe. In 1647, supply issues due to political troubles provides Dutch manufacturers with an idea: to limit Chinese porcelain with its white-blue patterns. Delft Blue was born.
In 1755, earthenware decorated palaces, churches and monasteries. Artists creating drawings with a great sense of finesse were called forth. Decorative, Azulejos were easy to maintain, they were protecting from the damp in winter and the heat in summer…
After the 1755 earthquake/tsunami/ fire, azulejos were produced in an industrial way with more basic patterns realised by craftsmen instead of artists. The Marquess of Pombal wanted to cover houses’ facades with them to protect against fire and to improve cities’ hygiene inspired by the Enlightenment ideas And English rationalism.
Since then you can find azulejos a bit all over the public and private spaces, palaces, churches, schools, train stations, blocks of flats and even more recently underground stations.
The most beautiful collection of azulejos can be found in the Azulejos Museum in an old and beautiful monastery in the North of Lisbon. The building itself is worth a visit.
The museum collection is rich with 7 000 pieces and is varied, showcasing the evolution of the art of tiling into earthenware from the Renaissance to today. The 25 meter long fresco representing Lisbon panorama before the 1755 earthquake is mindblowing. It is made out of not less than 1 300 tiles. You will also find modern works there, sign of this artistic form’ vitality.
São Vicente de Fora Convent in Lisbon is another place to visit if you love azulejos. It hosts 38 panels representing De la Fontaine’s Fables.
Another convent, Cardaes Convent is a rather little known beauty to discover in the district of Barrio Alto.
It is possible to buy them in specialised or antiques shops.
Shops sell azulejos with modern patterns from the 60’s to our day like Cortiço & Netos.
Azulejo robberies regularly happen in isolated palaces and churches or even in the heart of Lisbon feeding the black market. Don’t buy azulejos in the flea market in Alfama, called the Thieves’ market for a reason.
Pieces sold in antique shops are monitored and are not products of theft. You can go there.
Where can you make Azulejos in Lisbon?
If you feel creative, you can make your own azulejos at workshops in Lisbon.
We could follow Caroline’s instructions in French and in English. In 3 hours, you will learn about the history of Azulejos, the production principles and techniques and then, of course, you will learn to paint using patterns or giving free rein to your exuberant imagination or not : www.airbnb.fr/experiences/72232
Azulejos in Lisbon, it is a whole story and we hope that you learned many new things with us.
Be curious and enjoy your stroll !
More about Lisbon in french :
// Lisbon travelguide : bit.ly/Visiter-Lisbonne
// Map of Lisbon : bit.ly/Carte-Lisbonne
// Itineraries for a weekend : bit.ly/Itineraires-Lisbonne
// Places to stay : bit.ly/Hebergement-Lisbonne
Stay tune :
[] Website : www.vanupied.com
[] Facebook : / guide.voyage.vanupied
[] Instagram : / guide.vanupied
[] Pinterest : / vanupied
[] Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/3713675...
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This channel is underrated, vey good art educational/historical videos
Crazily beautiful.
I have hand painted on ceramic tiles for more than 28 years now in the America and am always loving any video for ceramic tiles. I wish they would make a video on how the blue and white came about with the blue seeming to always bleed onto the background of the tile…that has always fascinated me. Do you have any videos like that?
Thanks man, great guide!
beautiful!
This video was actually really helpful for a project I have to do for school, awesome!
I'm really glad ! Thank you !
I love azulejos and here in Amazon Brazil the Portuguese azulejos can be found because in Belem many Portuguese colonized this region
There are azulejos in Braga from the 5th centiury, so no arabs nor dutch. Azulejos mean blue because its their colour.
5th century in Braga ? That's interesting, do you have any details about it ?
It doesn't say where to find them in the city.
Everywhere 8-)
I bet you are dutch or german?
Sorry, wrong bet. Why do you assume I should be one or the other ?
I think you're wrong, he sounds French. Love the accent. ❤