One of the world's great decorative art traditions still in vogue today, brilliantly colored hand-painted tiles have decorated Portuguese buildings for centuries, from the humblest homes to the most lavish palaces, villas, churches, and monasteries. More than 200 full-color illustrations, specially commissioned for this book, vividly capture this traditional art form in its architectural context. The details of tile craftsmanship are also shown in close-up images. The text provides an overview of the history of azulejos (tiles) and features sites in Lisbon and the surrounding region where the finest examples of azulejo art are found.
Azulejos reflect the Moorish influences of the 16th century, the exuberance of Mannerism and the Baroque, the 18th century golden age of azulejos, and modernist styles as found in the underground "metropolitano" of Lisbon. Complete captions, a glossary, an explanation of techniques, and a list of commercial sources make this volume as practical as it is inspirational.
