Projected Outline

Portugal

References

Brazil

Sao Vicente de Fora (1582-1629) - Lisbon

1600

Sao Bento (1641) – Rio de Janeiro

Sao Francisco (1686-1755) – Salvador

Menino Deus (1711-1736) – Lisbon

1700

Mafra National Palace (1717-1770) – Mafra

Bom Jesus do Monte (1722-1835) – Braga

Nossa Senhora dos Remedios (1750-1760) – Lamego

Conceicao da Praia (1739) – Salvador

Bom Jesus de Matosinhos (1757-1875) – Congonhas

Nossa Senhora do Carmo (1766-1784) – Diamantina

Sao Francisco (1766-1774) – Sao Joao del Rei

Sao Francisco (1766-1835) – Ouro Preto

1800

Key:

Portugal

Brazil

Lisbon

Sao Vicente

Sao Vicente de Fora Monastery (1582-1629) is considered the first Portuguese Baroque to have the two tower facade and became the foundation for that trademark style.

Sao Vicente possesses the following trends:

Two-tower facade
Azulejo

Instituto da Habitação e da Reabilitação Urbana

~1550

Although azulejos (ceramic wall tiles) originate from Spain’s 13th century Moorish culture and practices, once production started in Portugal they were frequently used in Baroque designs. These tiles originally had geometric patterns at the time that their use was first transferred to Portugal, but Renaissance influences led to the use of collective tiles to portray allegorical or religious scenes. From this foundation the Portuguese developed their trademark blue tile work to illustrate scenes on the walls of many Baroque buildings.

~1570

The Jesuits began their missions in Brazil and established a plain style of church. The church facades were typically static and the early program was modest, with a nave and a chancel divided only by an arch if they’re divided at all. Many churches were built with available materials such as wood, mud and clay, though masonry construction was equally common depending on the area. Despite the simplicity of early church construction, more complex variations did develop. Jesuit Baroque developments included curved variations in the façade plane despite the continued inclusion of a strong pediment. The altars and retables, however, were consistently ornate.

Salvador

S Francisco Salvador

Sao Francisco church (1686-1755) has the following Baroque trends:

Two-tower facade
Azulejos

By Adelano Lázaro (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

By Gov/Ba's [2] (Rafael Martins/AGECOM) (Flickr [1]) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Lisbon

Menino Deus

Menino Deus church (1711-1736) has the following Baroque trends:

Presence of frescoes (Quadratura)
Azulejos
Octagonal Nave

Instituto da Habitação e da Reabilitação Urbana

By Zdtrlik (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Mafra

Mafra National Palace

The Mafra National Palace (1717-1770) has the following Baroque trends:

Presence of frescoes (Quadratura)
Two-tower facade

By Alvesgaspar (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

By Bosc d'Anjou from New York, NY, USA (Mafra 02) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Braga

Bom Jesus do Monte

Bom Jesus do Monte church (1722-1835) has the following Baroque trends:

Two-tower facade
Azulejos
Pilgrimage Stairs

By Botafogo (eigenes Bild) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By yuka HAYASHI from Osaka, JAPAN (Bom Jesus do Monte) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Salvador

Conceicao da Praia church (1739) is in a flat area along near the coast with a significant street wall formed by its adjacency to other buildings along this road. I speculate that the location for the Conceicao da Praia was chosen based on its proximity to the coast since the church was imported from Portugal and assembled in Brazil.

The Conceicao da Praia has the following Baroque trends:

Presence of frescoes (Quadratura)
Two-tower facade
Octagonal Nave

By Sailko (Own work) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

José Joaquim da Rocha [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Conceicao da Praia

Lamego

Nossa Senhora dos Remedios

Nossa Senhora dos Remedios church (1750-1760) has the following Baroque trends:

Two-tower facade
Octagonal Nave
Azulejos
Pilgrimage Stairs

By François Philipp from Darmstadt, Germany (Nossa senhora dos remédios, Lamego Uploaded by tm) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

By PMRMaeyaert (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

1755

Lisbon was Portugal’s economic, cultural, and religious center. As such, the majority of Portugal’s Baroque architecture was constructed in Lisbon. When the earthquake of 1755 struck Lisbon, most Baroque churches were leveled (although a few were relatively untouched). By 1755, much of Brazil’s gold and diamond income had slowed down, so the Portuguese crown lacked the funds to rebuild Lisbon as it was. It was more economical and much faster to rebuild in the Neoclassical style. This is when Portugal’s Baroque development shifted to North Portugal.