Azulejo框架的形象作用
Azulejo框架的形象作用
Azulejo框架的形象作用
frames
ROSÁRIO SALEMA DE CARVALHO
Abstract This article documents the relations between the verbal and visual ele-
ments found on the frames used in Portuguese tile decorations. Frames are a constant
presence in the history of Portuguese azulejos, from the late fifteenth century to the
present day. Their role is to integrate the decorations within the surrounding archi-
tecture and other artforms (mainly gilt woodwork, easel painting, polychrome marble
inlays, ceiling painting, sculptures, and textiles), as well as to structure systems with
a varying degree of complexity, usually subordinated to the idea of artistic totality.
Throughout the centuries, changes in taste have influenced the different kinds of
frames, often regarded as a minor part of the decoration, and therefore more open
to the introduction of new artistic styles. In the light of all this, it is clear that frames
are not mere finishing elements, but an important means of designing architectural
spaces and structuring tile decorations. Moreover, frames are often the vehicle for
a visual and textual discourse that is part of the iconographic programme they enclose.
As such, they play a decisive role in the history of Portuguese azulejos, highly relevant
for today’s international frame studies, and for the dialogue between images and
words.
Introduction
Frames are constantly present throughout the history of Portuguese azulejos,
from the late fifteenth century to the present day, and constitute an
important element of tile decorations. During a period of more than five
centuries, different trends determined the evolution of frame designs. Since
the frames were regarded as marginal sections of the compositions, they
were often the main vehicle for the introduction of new artistic styles.
During the Baroque period (1675–1750), blue and white frames played
a central part in the design of visual and decorative systems with different
degrees of complexity. These were almost always subordinated to the idea
of totality, visible in the dialogue maintained between the azulejos, the
architecture, and other artistic forms present in the same space.
The different trends of Portuguese Baroque tile production indicate
a succession or coexistence of different frame models, distinguished either
by their independence vis-à-vis the enclosed compositions, signalled by
a clearly defined frame, or by the ‘invasion’ of the enclosed compositions,
diluting the frontier between both sections. Whereas the catalogue of the
first kind of frames can be enhanced by systematically processing the
available information, including each frame’s degree and type of repetition,
and thus expanding current knowledge about the painters, the tilers, and
the production modes typical of each period, frames belonging to
the second kind tend to blend in with the surrounding architecture, simu-
lating architectural (and sculptural) structures and creating spaces within
spaces and fictitious continuities.
Accordingly, frames are not mere finishing elements, but active agents in
the design of architectural spaces and the organization of the tile
with a sphere on top, the olive branch, the tower of David (Turris David), the
palm (referring to the palm of En Gedi), the moon, the cedar of Lebanon,
the crown (Corona exultationis), the sunflower, Gideon’s fleece, lily of the
valley, the well, the sun over a mountain, the sun shining over an obelisk,
different flowers, the birds staring at the sun, the scales, the closed coffer,
the rosary, and others.
On the back wall, the Pentecost bears the monogram AM surmounted by
a crown, the spotless mirror, and a setting sun. On this same wall, but on
both sides of the door, two saints and their corresponding symbols reiter-
ate the iconographic coherence of the ensemble. In the case of St Paul,
both centres are decorated with a sword and each corner displays an open
book. St Peter is accompanied, on the lower centre, by a cock (referring to
his denial) and, on the upper centre, by a mitre. The lower corners are
decorated with two different motifs: the first breaks off abruptly and may
represent a sword, the second is an ear, referring to the Malco’s ear cut by
St Peter. Both upper corners are decorated with keys—the keys to
Heaven.
Some of these symbols evoke the emblems used by one of the most impor-
tant azulejo workshops: that of António de Oliveira Bernardes (1662–1732) and
14 – For a more comprehensive reading of
his son, Policarpo de Oliveira Bernardes (1695–1778), mainly based on Filippo
these emblems, see José Julio García Arranz, Picinelli’s Mondo simbolico.14 It is the case of the open oyster revealing a pearl,
‘Emblemática inmaculista en la azulejería usually accompanied by the motto IN VTERO IAM PVRA FVI (I was once pure
barroca portuguesa: el programa de la igle-
in the womb), or the sun rising over Mount Olympus, usually associated with
sia parroquial das Mercês de Lisboa’, in
Emblemática y religión en la península ibérica, Siglo the motto SEMPER CALIGNIS. Expers (always devoid of fog) (figure 7), or an
de Oro (Madrid: Iberoamericana Editorial obelisk surmounted by a shining sun and the motto UMBRAM NESCIT (ignore
Vervuert, 2013), 147–72.
what is the shadow).15 The image of the birds staring at the sun evokes in turn 15 – The translations follow García Arranz,
the emblem found on the wainscot16 of the nave of the Church of Terço, ‘Emblemática inmaculista’. For a more
comprehensive reading of these emblems,
Barcelos, mentioned below. This emblem depicts a crowned eagle flying with see José Julio García Arranz, ‘Azulejos and
four offspring towards the sun, accompanied by the motto PROBANTVR VT Emblematics in Eighteen-Century Portugal:
CORONENTVR and the Portuguese text A OBSERVÀNCIA DA RÈGRA/DE The Hieroglyphic Programmes of Masters
António and Policarpo de Oliveira
S. BENTO HE CERTO CA=/MINHO D A SALVAÇÃO (They are tested so that Bernardes’, in Mosaics of Meaning: Studies in
they may be crowned/The observance of the rule of St Benedict is a sure path Portuguese Emblematics, ed. Luis Gomes
to salvation).17 (Glasgow: University of Glasgow, 2009),
125–51.
Also in the Church of Terço, but on the main chapel, signed by the
16 – Although the main goal is to draw
unknown Master P.M.P., the borders enclosing the two episodes of the foun- attention to the importance of frames in
dation of the Benedictine monastery, by the Archbishop D. Rodrigo de Moura a narrative and iconographic context, these
Teles (1644–1728), join together horizontal and vertical frames (B-18-00043-H elements must be viewed as part of global
decorative solutions, including not only
and B-18-00044-V) of which other variants are known. Regarding the first of other artforms but also the azulejos them-
these borders, at least four centres can be identified. Two of them, with selves, with their various components. This
grotesque faces, were also found in other locations, whereas the other ones, article has therefore sought to establish
a clear distinction between wainscots and
with a crown and a mitre, are unique, undoubtedly intended as an allusion to frames, seeing as these two sections play
the royal and episcopal powers. The construction of the monastery is in fact the different roles within the same tile covering,
result of a formal wish by King João V, who in turn carried out King Pedro II’s even when they are closely connected or
intermingled.
wish to build a monastery to house the religious sisterhood of Monção, whose
17 – García Arranz, ‘Azulejos and
initial destination was the Convent of Salvador. As mentioned above, and Emblematics in Eighteen-Century Portugal’,
confirmed by the cartouche above the main doorway, the ceremony signalling 125–151, at 145–47. The translation provided
the placement of the first stone was held in 1707 and overseen by D. Rodrigo de follows the same author.
Moura Teles, who blessed the first stone and presided over the processional
entrance of the first nuns in 1713.18 18 – Patrícia Cristina Teixeira Roque de
Before carrying on with the analysis, we should note that the increasing Almeida, ‘O Azulejo do Século XVIII na
Arquitectura das Ordens de S. Bento e de
complexity of the frames also extends to architectural simulations, wherein S. Francisco no Entre Douro e Minho’, 4
frames and coverings seem to coalesce and it is no longer easy to distinguish vols. (Ph.D. diss., Faculdade de Letras da
between the two. In the Masters’ Cycle, this complexity is almost always Universidade do Porto, 2004), II: 399–416.
linked to Master P.M.P., as is the case of the decoration originally designed
for Lisbon’s Cathedral and found today in the Almada Seminar, or in the
Church of Saint James, Torres Vedras, with a very similar decoration. The
composition appears to be bound by an architectural structure, with an
equally architectural centre that takes over the entire composition, leaving
room for ‘open’ side sections filled with landscapes. On the centre, two
angels reveal a structure decorated with volutes, enveloping a cartouche
containing the symbols of St Vincent and St James.
Despite the painter’s possible mistakes20 both sentences reiterate and 20 – Mistakes, errors, word changes, and
clarify the accompanying image, showing the martyrdom of St imprecisions are common in tile decorations
when a Latin sentence is quoted, especially
Apollonia, and were chosen and painted with this particular decoration due to the small space available in the car-
in mind. The first sentence alludes to the moment when the saint’s touches and phylacteries, which sometimes
executioners pulled out her teeth, and the second recounts how she had to be subdivided.
threw herself into the fire, inflamed by the inner and more powerful
fire of the Holy Spirit.
the bicephalous eagle: a scudo with a flaming heart pierced by two arrows on
a book over a mitre and a crozier. The eagle represents God’s double
nature in its union with humanity (the Mother and the Son symbolizing the
Universal Catholic Monarchy). On the left side, the eagle holds in its beak
an inkpot containing the blood with which St Augustine founded the
written truth of the Church, and its claw holds the sun, symbol of the 28 – Jaelson Bitran Trindade, ‘O Império dos
divine royalty of Christ. On the right side, the eagle holds in its beak the Mil Anos e a arte do “tempo Barroco”: a águia
bicéfala como emblema da Cristandade’,
sacred belt, offered by the Virgin Mary to St Monica, mother of St
Anais do Museu Paulista 18, no. 2 (2010): 11–91,
Augustine, who wore it as part of her habit. The eagle’s left claw holds http://www.revistas.usp.br/anaismp/article/
the moon.28 view/5533 (accessed May 3, 2019).
Acknowledgments
The author expresses her gratitude to José Julio García Arranz for his help in identifying
some symbols; to André Simões for his generous assistance with the Latin translations; to
Bernardo Ferro for his translation and revisions; and to Libório Manuel Silva for allowing
the publication, some of his beautiful photographs. This study was funded by the Fundação
para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT-Portugal) with a postdoctoral grant (grant number
SFRH/BPD/84867/2012) supported by the European Social Fund through the Human
Capital Operational Programme (HCOP), and by national funds from the Ministry of
Science, Technology, and Higher Education.
ORCID
Rosário Salema de Carvalho http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0841-3152
Appendices
The Latin Vulgate Bible quotations are taken from the Douay-Rheims Bible online version
(http://www.drbo.org/lvb). For the English translation, the Douay-Rheims edition (http://
vulgate.org) have also been chosen instead of a more recent version of the Bible. Recent
versions are translated from the Greek or Hebrew, whereas the text quoted in the azulejos is
taken from the Vulgate, which is often different, due to variations in the different hand-
written copies, from the original text used in modern translations. Whenever the verses in
the azulejos are not taken from the Vulgate, a note to that effect is included in the transcrip-
tion. The same applies whenever the text does not correspond to that of more recent
versions of the Bible. Although the common philological solution to the alternation between
‘v’ and ‘u’, which is largely arbitrary until the eighteenth century, is to use ‘u’ in words with
lower case letters and ‘V’ in words with upper case letters, the solutions used in each quoted
source have been replicated. The decorative themes were identified with the codes used in
Iconclass.
3. Allegory of Charity
Transcription of the upper cartouche: ‘CHARIDADE’
Transcription of the lower cartouche: ‘VNIVERSSA DELICTA/OPERIT
CHARITAS/Proverb. 10’
Vulgata Proverbs 10:12: […] universa delicta operit caritas.
Translation: […] and charity covereth all sins.
4. Allegory of Obedience
Transcription of the upper cartouche: ‘OBEDIENCIA’
Transcription of the lower cartouche: ‘IVGVM/MEVM SVAVE/est. math. 11’
Vulgata Matthews 11:30: Jugum enim meum suave est […].
Translation: For my yoke is sweet […].
5. The composition is reminiscent of the theme depicting ‘various saints
watching, in Heaven, the throne once occupied by Lucifer’, but it has
also been interpreted as ‘Saint Francis in the throne handing down the
Rule of the Third Order’ (upper cartouche with a shield bearing the five
wounds of Christ.
St Francis holding a paper: ‘QVICVMQVE/HANC/REGVLAM/SEQVVIT/
FVERINT/PAX SVPER/ILOS, ET/MISERICORDIA’
Vulgata Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 6:16: Et quicumque hanc regulam secuti
fuerint, pax super illos, et misericordia […].
Translation: And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace on them and mercy […].
Transcription of the lower cartouche: ‘TERTIVS INSVRGIT VA/RIIS
DEGENT IBVS ORDO/SIC FVLGENT NITIDO/SIDERA MVLTA POLO’
Reconstruction: Tertius insurgit, variis degentibus, Ordo; sic fulgent nitido sidera multa polo.
Translation: The Third Order rises, while many have passed; and several stars
light up the clear sky.
6. St Francis lying on a rosebush (upper cartouche with a heart in flames)
Transcription of the lower cartouche: ‘FRANCISCVS VENERIS STI/MVLO
DIRISSIME PVNCTVS/VOLVITVR IN SPINIS COMPERIT/ESSE ROZAS’
Reconstruction: Franciscus, Veneris stimulo dirissime punctus, volvitur in spinis, com-
perit esse rosas.
Translation: Francis, heavily hit by Venus’ sting, moves around amid the
thorns; he then realizes they are roses.
7. St Francis is tempted by a lady ‘à la fontange’ (upper cartouche with
a heart surrounded by thorns)
Transcription of the lower cartouche: ‘FRIGERAT IPSE PATER MEDIO/
DVM VOLVITVR IGNE=/NIL MIRVM ILE SVO SOLVS/ABIGNE CALET’
Transcription of the cartouche above the door: ‘Sendo Cónego Cardeal na Sé de Con/
postella largou Esta dignidade pella Solidão/do Deserto donde fes/Notáveis Penitençias/etem
Deos obrado por elle muitos Milagres’
Translation: Canon Cardinal in the Cathedral of Compostella, he traded this
dignity for the solitude of the desert, where he did notable penances and God
has performed through him several miracles.
2. Transcription of the upper cartouche: ‘B. Galtero Bispo/De Treviso Daord. 3ª’
Translation: B. Galtero Bishop/Of Treviso of the Third Order
Transcription of the cartouche above the door: ‘Foy muyto Insigne na Charidade/
Humildade e Pureza e resplandeçeo/Com muytos Milagres’
Translation: He excelled in charity, humility and purity, and shone bright with
several miracles.
Vulgata Daniel 14:33: […] Fer prandium quod habes in Babylonem Danieli, qui est in
lacu leonum.
Translation Daniel 14:33*: […] Carry the dinner which thou hast into Babylon,
to Daniel, who is in the lions’ den.
*It corresponds to number 14:34 in the current versions.
Iconography: Daniel in the lions’ den (71P34)
Cloister [wall 1]
Cloister [wall 2]
4. Transcription of the upper cartouche: ‘[…] Aleixo de M.z/procura reduzir á
obed.ª do Pontif. e/os Christaons de S. Thomé; e abre/visita em a Igr.ª dos PP. da
comp.ª/de Vaipicola em o anno de/1599.’
Translation: […] Aleixo de Menezes attempts to make the Christians of S. Thomé
obey the pontiff; and visits the Church of the Fathers of the Company of
Vaipicola, in the year/1599.
Transcription of the lower cartouche: ‘Excomunga uos que recohecem/por summo P
[ontifice] […] Patriarcha/da Babilonia’
Translation: He excommunicates those who recognize the Patriarch of Babylon
as Supreme Pontiff
5. Transcription of the upper cartouche: ‘Continúa o Arcebispo/sua visita em
colligerra/mangalao.’
Translation: The Archbishop continues his visit in Mangalao
6. Transcription of the upper cartouche: ‘Celébra o Arceb./Synodo na Igreja/de
DIAMPER’
Translation: The Archbishop holds a Synod in the Church of Diamper
Transcription of the lower cartouche: ‘Faz protesfação da Feé, e da Obed./ao Sumo
Pontifice em nome de/[…] da a christandade/de S. Thome e/o seu pPre/lado’
Translation: He protests to the Supreme Pontiff the faith and obedience of the
Christians and the Priesthood of São Tomé
7. Transcription of the upper cartouche: ‘Felix transito do V. Arceb.º e/Presid.te do
Con.º de estado/de Portugal.’
Translation: Successful journey of the V. Archbishop President of the State
Council of Portugal.
Transcription of the lower cartouche: ‘Succedeu a 3. de Mayo de/1617 em a corte de/Madrid.’
Translation: It happened on May 3, 1967 in the court of Madrid.
From the mouth of the dead: ‘NVNC DI MITTIS SERVVM TVVM DNE.’
Vulgata Luke 2:29: Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine […]
Translation: Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord […]
8. Transcription of the upper cartouche: ‘Emterro do V. Arceb.º em q./foy sempre
diante do corpo a/Cruz Primacial de/Braga.’
Translation: Burial of the V. Archbishop, during which Braga’s Primate Cross
was continually kept in front of the body.
Triumphal arch
10. Transcription of the cartouche: ‘SVBTVVM/PREZIDIVM/CONFVGI/
MVS’
Translation: We fly to Thy protection
Iconography: Our Lady of Mercy
12. Transcription of the upper cartouche: ‘DAR DE BEBER A QVEM TEM SEDE’
Translation: Give drink to the thirsty
Transcription of the lower cartouche: ‘DA NOBIS AQV/AM VT BIBA/MVS .
Exod. 17 v.2.’
Vulgata Exodus 17:2: […] Da nobis aquam, ut bibamus […].
Translation: […] Give us water, that we may drink […].
Iconography: Moses striking water from the rock (71E126)
Vulgata Deuteronomy 15:11: […] praecipio tibi, ut aperias manum fratri tuo egeno et
pauperi […].
Translation: […] therefore I command thee to open thy hand to thy needy and
poor brother […].
Transcription of the lower cartouche: ‘SEMPER/ENIM PAV/PERES HA/
BEBITIS VO/BISCVM/Marc. 14. v. 7’
Vulgata Mark 14:7: semper enim pauperes habetis vobiscum […].
Translation: For the poor you have always with you […].
Upper choir
19. Transcription of the upper cartouche: ‘TIMETE/DEVM ET/DATE
ILLI/HONOREM.’
Vulgata Revelation 14:7: […] Timete Dominum, et date illi honorem […].
Translation: […] Fear the Lord and give him honour […].
Iconography: adoration of the Lamb on Mount Sion (73G44)
Hymn by Coelius Sedulius (d. Circa 450) ‘A solis ortus cardine’: Christum canamus
Principem, natum Maria Virgine.
Translation: let us sing of Christ the Prince, born of the Virgin Mary.
Main chapel | left wall | scenes from the Life of Virgin: Birth of Mary (73A31); Presentation of Mary in the
Temple (73A34); Marriage of Mary and Joseph (73A42); the Annunciation (73A52); and a well in the middle
Vulgata Luke 1:38: […] fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum […].
Translation: […] be it done to me according to thy word […].