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Igreja Matriz (Lagoa)
Encyclopedia
The Igreja Matriz of Lagoa (Algarve)
is situated in the heart of the city. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Light (Nossa Senhora da Luz).
in the diocese
of Silves at the beginning of the 16th century (while Lagoa itself was still part of the municipality/concelho
of Silves. This change in status led to the construction of a new building in the prevailing Manueline
style. The usual design of the time for principal churches involved a tripartite nave
, five bays
, no transept
, and three altars
at the front.
This earlier church was badly damaged in the 1755 Earthquake
. All that has survived is a Manueline
doorway integrated into the bell tower, and certain architectural elements visible in the sacristy which were incorporated as fill material in the 18th-century reconstruction and which are occasionally rediscovered during renovations.
As for the reconstruction itself, there survives a contract from 1764 between Luís Coelho da Silva of Monchique and the head of the elected Building Commission (Comissão Fabriqueira), Diogo Tavares, for furnishing wood for the church. (Tavares was a professional builder and the most prestigious stonemason and contractor in the Algarve. At the time he was living in Lagoa). The main door and the three windows of the principle facade were only rebuilt in 1809 by the Faro
stonemason, António Xavier de Mendonça using stone cut in the quarry of S. Lourenço. The building was finally consecrated on 4 September 1814 by Bishop D. Francisco Gomes de Avelar.
The column
s and arch
es in the nave date from the third quarter of the 18th century, erected under the supervision of Diogo Tavares. They are similar to what can be seen in the principal churches of Estombar, Portimão
, and in St. Peter (São Pedro) of Faro
and represent a style that at the time seems to have been limited to the Algarve.
. In the end, three of these altar-pieces were never completed (the ones for the chancel and the collateral chapels); the fate of the other two (for the chapels of St. Sebastian and St. Anthony) are unknown.
The altarpiece
of the chancel is representative of the 19th century. During the episcopal visit of 1803 it was noted that a new altarpiece needed to be constructed as soon as possible. In the following year 500 réis
was budgeted for it and master-carver Mathias José de Sousa, a resident of Lagoa at the time, was responsible for the work. An analysis of the piece, however, shows strong ties to 18th-century carving, not only in the dynamism of its design, but also in the preservation of column
s with straight channeled shafts and in the two angels set on the curved segment of the upper section. (It is possible that the earlier sketch by Manuel Francisco Xavier was adapted in large part by Mathias.) The image on the main altar is of Our Lady of Light, the patron saint of the church (and of Lagoa).
The 6 side altarpieces, despite some later interventions, display great similarities to each other, indicating that they belong to a common program and that they were created in the same workshop. There is a certain formality about them – a plain or rectangular design contrasting with the dynamism of the pedestal
s, of the “tree-trunk” pillars
, and of the ornamentation, especially at the top. Beyond the usual principles of design – dignity suiting the House of God, presenting to the faithful one of the possible representations of heaven
, and the framing of figures who stand out for their exemplary lives – there are other, more specific ones: the adoption of a common decorative program, a strong emphasis on the parish priest, and the possible eventual participation of a confraternity or brotherhood (probably without any members of high social status or wealth).
), about 3 dozen examples from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, some of which come from the Carmelite Convent of São José
, and from two shrines elsewhere in town. Among these objects is a silver censer, and a carved image of the Christ Child. The censer
, in the shape of a boat, is still used today during the most solemn ceremonies. Its profusion of ornamentation with volute
s, acanthus
leaves, seraph
im heads, etc. is characteristic of the Baroque
period of the first half of the 18th century. There is no information about its creator, but it was probably one of the Algarve artists well known for this type of work.
The wooden image of the Christ Child
is also Baroque
from the first half of the 18th century. It was destined for an oratory
and when created it was sitting on some sort of chair. In the third quarter of the 18th century a bed of wood was made for it, in the Rococo
style. From the moment it was presented to the church it has had great popular appeal, especially at Christmas time when it is kissed by the faithful.
The chest of drawers in the sacristy
is contemporary with the carving of the side altars but seems to be from a different work-shop, and is an important example of Rococo
carving.
Lagoa (Algarve)
Lagoa Municipality is a Portuguese municipality in Faro District, in the region known as the Algarve, with about 6,100 inhabitants.Its seat is the city of Lagoa....
is situated in the heart of the city. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Light (Nossa Senhora da Luz).
History and design
As happened elsewhere in the Algarve, it is highly probable that Lagoa was raised to the status of a parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
in the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Silves at the beginning of the 16th century (while Lagoa itself was still part of the municipality/concelho
Concelho
Concelho , in the Portuguese language, is the word municipality, when referring to the territory. The word município is used when municipality means the organ of State...
of Silves. This change in status led to the construction of a new building in the prevailing Manueline
Manueline
The Manueline, or Portuguese late Gothic, is the sumptuous, composite Portuguese style of architectural ornamentation of the first decades of the 16th century, incorporating maritime elements and representations of the discoveries brought from the voyages of Vasco da Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral...
style. The usual design of the time for principal churches involved a tripartite nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, five bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
, no transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
, and three altars
Altar (Catholicism)
In the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, the altar is where the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered. Mass may sometimes be celebrated outside a sacred place, but never without an altar, or at least an altar stone.-Precedent:...
at the front.
This earlier church was badly damaged in the 1755 Earthquake
1755 Lisbon earthquake
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake, also known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, was a megathrust earthquake that took place on Saturday 1 November 1755, at around 9:40 in the morning. The earthquake was followed by fires and a tsunami, which almost totally destroyed Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal, and...
. All that has survived is a Manueline
Manueline
The Manueline, or Portuguese late Gothic, is the sumptuous, composite Portuguese style of architectural ornamentation of the first decades of the 16th century, incorporating maritime elements and representations of the discoveries brought from the voyages of Vasco da Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral...
doorway integrated into the bell tower, and certain architectural elements visible in the sacristy which were incorporated as fill material in the 18th-century reconstruction and which are occasionally rediscovered during renovations.
As for the reconstruction itself, there survives a contract from 1764 between Luís Coelho da Silva of Monchique and the head of the elected Building Commission (Comissão Fabriqueira), Diogo Tavares, for furnishing wood for the church. (Tavares was a professional builder and the most prestigious stonemason and contractor in the Algarve. At the time he was living in Lagoa). The main door and the three windows of the principle facade were only rebuilt in 1809 by the Faro
Faro, Portugal
Faro is the southernmost city in Portugal. It is located in the Faro Municipality in southern Portugal. The city proper has 41,934 inhabitants and the entire municipality has 58,305. It is the seat of the Faro District and capital of the Algarve region...
stonemason, António Xavier de Mendonça using stone cut in the quarry of S. Lourenço. The building was finally consecrated on 4 September 1814 by Bishop D. Francisco Gomes de Avelar.
The column
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
s and arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
es in the nave date from the third quarter of the 18th century, erected under the supervision of Diogo Tavares. They are similar to what can be seen in the principal churches of Estombar, Portimão
Portimão
Portimão is a Portuguese town located in the District of Faro in the Region of Algarve, the southern coast of Portugal. It was formerly known as Vila Nova de Portimão . In 1924, it was incorporated as a cidade and became known merely as Portimão. The town has 41,000 inhabitants and the Portimão...
, and in St. Peter (São Pedro) of Faro
Faro, Portugal
Faro is the southernmost city in Portugal. It is located in the Faro Municipality in southern Portugal. The city proper has 41,934 inhabitants and the entire municipality has 58,305. It is the seat of the Faro District and capital of the Algarve region...
and represent a style that at the time seems to have been limited to the Algarve.
Ornamentation
As for the ornamentation of the chancel and chapels, a contract survives, dated 22 September 1770, between the parish priest, Fr. Ignácio de Oliveira e Sousa, and one of the most well-known artists of the Algarve, master-carver Manuel Francisco Xavier, for the commission to create five altar-pieces in the latest style out of wood from Flanders for the price of 700 réisPortuguese real
The real was the unit of currency of Portugal from around 1430 until 1911. It replaced the dinheiro at the rate of 1 real = 840 dinheiros and was itself replaced by the escudo at a rate of 1 escudo = 1000 réis...
. In the end, three of these altar-pieces were never completed (the ones for the chancel and the collateral chapels); the fate of the other two (for the chapels of St. Sebastian and St. Anthony) are unknown.
The altarpiece
Altarpiece
An altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as panel painting. It is then called a diptych, triptych or polyptych for two,...
of the chancel is representative of the 19th century. During the episcopal visit of 1803 it was noted that a new altarpiece needed to be constructed as soon as possible. In the following year 500 réis
Portuguese real
The real was the unit of currency of Portugal from around 1430 until 1911. It replaced the dinheiro at the rate of 1 real = 840 dinheiros and was itself replaced by the escudo at a rate of 1 escudo = 1000 réis...
was budgeted for it and master-carver Mathias José de Sousa, a resident of Lagoa at the time, was responsible for the work. An analysis of the piece, however, shows strong ties to 18th-century carving, not only in the dynamism of its design, but also in the preservation of column
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
s with straight channeled shafts and in the two angels set on the curved segment of the upper section. (It is possible that the earlier sketch by Manuel Francisco Xavier was adapted in large part by Mathias.) The image on the main altar is of Our Lady of Light, the patron saint of the church (and of Lagoa).
The 6 side altarpieces, despite some later interventions, display great similarities to each other, indicating that they belong to a common program and that they were created in the same workshop. There is a certain formality about them – a plain or rectangular design contrasting with the dynamism of the pedestal
Pedestal
Pedestal is a term generally applied to the support of a statue or a vase....
s, of the “tree-trunk” pillars
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
, and of the ornamentation, especially at the top. Beyond the usual principles of design – dignity suiting the House of God, presenting to the faithful one of the possible representations of heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
, and the framing of figures who stand out for their exemplary lives – there are other, more specific ones: the adoption of a common decorative program, a strong emphasis on the parish priest, and the possible eventual participation of a confraternity or brotherhood (probably without any members of high social status or wealth).
Other religious objects
The church houses a small collection of religious objects (sculpture and reliquariesReliquary
A reliquary is a container for relics. These may be the physical remains of saints, such as bones, pieces of clothing, or some object associated with saints or other religious figures...
), about 3 dozen examples from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, some of which come from the Carmelite Convent of São José
Convent of São José, Lagoa (Algarve)
The Convent of Saint Joseph in the city of Lagoa , Portugal, was built on the north edge of the old town, with its belvedere tower straddling the main road north to Silves...
, and from two shrines elsewhere in town. Among these objects is a silver censer, and a carved image of the Christ Child. The censer
Censer
Censers are any type of vessels made for burning incense. These vessels vary greatly in size, form, and material of construction. They may consist of simple earthenware bowls or fire pots to intricately carved silver or gold vessels, small table top objects a few centimetres tall to as many as...
, in the shape of a boat, is still used today during the most solemn ceremonies. Its profusion of ornamentation with volute
Volute
A volute is a spiral scroll-like ornament that forms the basis of the Ionic order, found in the capital of the Ionic column. It was later incorporated into Corinthian order and Composite column capitals...
s, acanthus
Acanthus (ornament)
The acanthus is one of the most common plant forms to make foliage ornament and decoration.-Architecture:In architecture, an ornament is carved into stone or wood to resemble leaves from the Mediterranean species of the Acanthus genus of plants, which have deeply cut leaves with some similarity to...
leaves, seraph
Seraph
A seraph is a type of celestial being in Judaism and Christianity...
im heads, etc. is characteristic of the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
period of the first half of the 18th century. There is no information about its creator, but it was probably one of the Algarve artists well known for this type of work.
The wooden image of the Christ Child
Child Jesus
The Child Jesus represents Jesus from his Nativity to age 12. At 13 he was considered to be adult, in accordance with the Jewish custom of his time, and that of most Christian cultures until recent centuries.The Child Jesus is frequently depicted in art, from around the third or fourth century...
is also Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
from the first half of the 18th century. It was destined for an oratory
Oratory (worship)
An oratory is a Christian room for prayer, from the Latin orare, to pray.-Catholic church:In the Roman Catholic Church, an oratory is a structure other than a parish church, set aside by ecclesiastical authority for prayer and the celebration of Mass...
and when created it was sitting on some sort of chair. In the third quarter of the 18th century a bed of wood was made for it, in the Rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
style. From the moment it was presented to the church it has had great popular appeal, especially at Christmas time when it is kissed by the faithful.
The chest of drawers in the sacristy
Sacristy
A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building...
is contemporary with the carving of the side altars but seems to be from a different work-shop, and is an important example of Rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
carving.