Miguel António do Amaral (1710–1780) was a Portuguese

court painter A court painter was an artist who painted for the members of a royal or princely family, sometimes on a fixed salary and on an exclusive basis where the artist was not supposed to undertake other work. Painters were the most common, but the cour ...

to the

House of Braganza The Most Serene House of Braganza (), also known as the Brigantine dynasty (''dinastia Brigantina''), is a dynasty of emperors, kings, princes, and dukes of Portuguese people, Portuguese origin which reigned in Europe and the Americas. The hous ...

, progressing in the years from the household of King

Joseph I of Portugal '' Dom'' Joseph I (; 6 June 1714 – 24 February 1777), known as the Reformer (Portuguese: ''o Reformador''), was King of Portugal from 31 July 1750 until his death in 1777. Among other activities, Joseph was devoted to hunting and the opera. ...

to that of Queen

Maria I of Portugal '' Dona'' Maria I (Maria Francisca Isabel Josefa Antónia Gertrudes Rita Joana; 17 December 1734 – 20 March 1816) also known as Maria the Pious in Portugal and Maria the Mad in Brazil, was Queen of Portugal from 24 February 1777 until her de ...

and finally to the household of

José, Prince of Brazil Dom José, Prince of Brazil, Duke of Braganza (; 20 August 1761 – 11 September 1788) was the heir apparent to the Kingdom of Portugal until his death in 1788, as the eldest child of Queen Dona Maria I of Portugal and King Dom Pedro III of P ...

1773 Commission

In 1773, Amaral was commissioned by

to make two sets of portraits featuring the King and his wife,

Mariana Victoria of Spain Mariana Victoria of Spain (; 31 March 1718 – 15 January 1781) was an ''Infante, Infanta of Spain'' by birth and was later the List of Portuguese consorts, Queen of Portugal as the wife of King Joseph I of Portugal, Joseph I. She acted as rege ...

. After the completion of his grandfather's set of portraits in mid-1773, José, Prince of Beira ordered a similar commission by Amaral. However, he also asked for a second portrait of José, for his mother,

. These works would gain Amaral incredible fame throughout Portugal and Europe as an able portrait painter, having done five incredibly detailed and large portraits in one year.

References

Museu do Hospital e das Caldas
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amaral, Miguel Antonio do Painters at the Portuguese royal court Portuguese painters Portuguese male painters 1710 births 1780 deaths Place of birth missing