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António Manuel da Fonseca (27 September 1796,
@ the Chiado Museum website. He then worked at the "Aula de Desenho e de Figura e História", founded by Joaquim Manuel da Rocha (1727-1786). His first known work is a panel depicting King João VI and Carlota Joaquina, executed in 1820 at the "Palácio das Laranjeiras" for Joaquim Pedro Quintela, 1st Count of Farrobo and his wife. Two years later, he produced a large series of
from the notes to ''Obras, precedidas de um ensaio biographico, augmentadas com algumas composições ineditas do poeta pelo visconde de Juromenha'' @ Google Books. mostly scenes from the Roman-Sabine wars, landscapes showing Rome and its environs and miscellaneous themes from Greek mythology. In 1878, when he was in his 80s, he returned to do restorative work.
In 1825, he painted curtains for the
from the ''Diccionario bibliographico portuguez'' @ Google Books. In 1838, he designed costumes for a play by Almeida Garrett and did set designs for the opera ''
Lisbon
Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...
- 4 October 1890, Lisbon) was a Portuguese painter, illustrator and theatrical designer; best known for his mythological and historical scenes.
Biography
His first studies were with his father, , who was a painter and sculptor.Brief biography@ the Chiado Museum website. He then worked at the "Aula de Desenho e de Figura e História", founded by Joaquim Manuel da Rocha (1727-1786). His first known work is a panel depicting King João VI and Carlota Joaquina, executed in 1820 at the "Palácio das Laranjeiras" for Joaquim Pedro Quintela, 1st Count of Farrobo and his wife. Two years later, he produced a large series of
fresco
Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...
es at the Palácio de Quintela;Brief biographyfrom the notes to ''Obras, precedidas de um ensaio biographico, augmentadas com algumas composições ineditas do poeta pelo visconde de Juromenha'' @ Google Books. mostly scenes from the Roman-Sabine wars, landscapes showing Rome and its environs and miscellaneous themes from Greek mythology. In 1878, when he was in his 80s, he returned to do restorative work.
In 1825, he painted curtains for the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos
The ''Teatro Nacional de São Carlos'' () (''National Theatre of Saint Charles'') is an opera house in Lisbon, Portugal. It was opened on June 30, 1793 by Queen Maria I as a replacement for the Tejo Opera House, which was destroyed in the 1755 ...
, followed by a portrait of King Pedro IV. Supported by the King and Count Quintela, he was able to go to Rome, where he made copies of the Old Masters
In art history, "Old Master" (or "old master")Old Masters De ...
and completed his artistic training with Vincenzo Camuccini
Vincenzo Camuccini (22 February 1771 – 2 September 1844) was an Italian Neoclassicism, Neoclassical painter. He was considered the premier academic painter of his time in Rome.
Biography
Early life and education
Camuccini was born in Rome, ...
and Andrea Pozzi. He also spent time in London and Paris and, when he returned in 1836, he was appointed a Professor of history painting
History painting is a genre in painting defined by its subject matter rather than any artistic style or specific period. History paintings depict a moment in a narrative story, most often (but not exclusively) Greek and Roman mythology and B ...
at the "Academia de Belas-Artes" (now part of the University of Lisbon
The University of Lisbon (ULisboa; ) is a public university, public research university in Lisbon, and Portugal's largest university. It was founded in 1911, but the university's present structure dates to the 2013 merger of the former Universit ...
).Biographical notesfrom the ''Diccionario bibliographico portuguez'' @ Google Books. In 1838, he designed costumes for a play by Almeida Garrett and did set designs for the opera ''
Robert le diable
''Robert le diable'' (''Robert the Devil'') is an opera in five acts composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer between 1827 and 1831, to a libretto written in French by Eugène Scribe and Germain Delavigne. ''Robert le diable'' is regarded as one of the first ...
'' by Giacomo Meyerbeer
Giacomo Meyerbeer (born Jakob Liebmann Meyer Beer; 5 September 1791 – 2 May 1864) was a German opera composer, "the most frequently performed opera composer during the nineteenth century, linking Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Mozart and Richard Wa ...
. Together with the lithographer, Maurício José Sendim (1786-1870), he created illustrations for the ''Quadros históricos'' by António Feliciano de Castilho.
He continued to exhibit frequently, culminating in 1880 at a major exhibition in the "Palácio de Cristal" in Porto
Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto c ...
. He also served as drawing master to the future King Carlos and his brother Afonso. His many honors include Knighthood in the Order of Christ and the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa, as well as being a corresponding member of the Institut de France
The ; ) is a French learned society, grouping five , including the . It was established in 1795 at the direction of the National Convention. Located on the Quai de Conti in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the institute manages approximately ...
.
References
Further reading
* Paulo Caratão Soromenho, ''O pintor lisboeta António Manuel da Fonseca'', Ramos, Afonso & Moita, 1967External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fonseca, Antonio Manuel da 1796 births 1890 deaths Portuguese painters Portuguese male painters History painters Mythology in art Court painters Artists from Lisbon Portuguese scenic designers Knights of the Order of Christ (Portugal) Knights of the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa 19th-century Portuguese people