Portugal

About

Portugal's great early painting is the Saint Vincent Panels, attributed to Nuno Gonçalves in the later 15th century, a crowded gathering of nobles, monks, fishermen and knights. As the country's ships reached Africa, India and Brazil, builders devised the Manueline style, carving ropes, coral and armillary spheres into the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower in Lisbon. Azulejos, glazed tiles often painted blue on white, covered church and palace walls from the 17th century.

Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso absorbed Cubism in Paris before his early death in 1918, and Maria Helena Vieira da Silva later built lattice-like spaces in paint. Paula Rego, who settled in London, told dark, fable-like stories of women, and Helena Almeida photographed her own body entering painting. The architect Álvaro Siza made Porto a reference for modern building. Joana Vasconcelos makes large sculptures from everyday objects, and Pedro Cabrita Reis builds with industrial materials.