The Art of Gilded Carving
Portuguese history, culture and tradition.
The art of gilded carving is a technique of carving oak and chestnut wood, preceded by its coating in a gold film. It was a technique widely used in northern Portugal during the Baroque phase, especially to decorate the interiors of churches and altarpieces. However, it is also a technique widely used in the decoration of pulpits, windows, valances, choirs, ceilings and arches of the cross.
Here in Porto, there are excellent examples of this art such as the Church of São Francisco and the Church of Santa Clara. The gold period that Brazil was experiencing and the economic relations that Portugal maintained with the Brazilians, provided an abundance of gold that even allowed its use in pre-existing carvings.
Porto's Best examples
Church of St. Francis
The history of the church of São Francisco dates to the beginning of the thirteenth century, when the Franciscan friars settled in Porto. This order was the first to emerge in the city. Although it was markedly Gothic, well represented by the rose window of the main facade and the portal of the south facade, it is the influences of the Baroque that now enrich it, especially in its interior, by the magnificent coverings in gilded woodcarving, giving it the status of a lined gold church. The singular contrast of the luxuriant ornamentation of the carvings with the austerity of the Gothic structure is one of the great hallmarks of this work.
Church of St. Clare
From Largo Primeiro de Dezembro you can access the courtyard that gives access to the Church and Convent of Santa Clara, a complex that was founded in the fifteenth century, completed in 1457, on the initiative of D. João I and his wife Queen D. Filipa Lencastre. Nowadays, not too much was left from the fifteenth-century building, however, the church still features its original Gothic architecture, but that has been altered over the years. Its interior presents one of the best examples of the gold-lined churches of the Johannine Baroque, in which the nave is magnificently decorated in gilded and polychrome woodcarving.
Experiences
Discover the city of Porto and learn about the story of the church of São Francisco and the church of Santa Clara with our app, a personal tour guide on mobile that shows you the historic centre of Porto. Perfect for visitors who like to get to know the city at their own pace and will.
