Lisbon’s São Francisco Xavier College: architecture and ornament

Abstract

Speaking of Lisbon and the decorative arts leads us to the sacred spaces that populate this city. The Society of Jesus, with six foundations in the capital, was notable for designing spaces in which architecture and decorative arts make up an integrated project at the service of spirituality and christian propaganda. One such building is the São Francisco Xavier College, adapted to Hospital da Marinha. Although the military building has been the subject of several studies, the Jesuit occupation has been treated less incisively, as well as its decorative heritage. For this reason, we propose, with this investigation, to analyze primary sources of different types and origins, in order to collect the details of the foundation and construction of the college. We also propose to analyze a church with an architectural model different from that normally attributed to the Jesuit temple, and which, far from the grandeur and pomp of S. Roque and Santo Antão, deserves attention in regard to the way in which the ornament dignify its liturgical space.