St. Anthony and the child

The azulejo panels known as registers were images of feverous religiosity, seemingly exacerbated by the catastrophe arising from the great 1755 earthquake. They simulated paintings and retabular constructions and were applied not only to the façades of churches and chapels but also on private buildings, in an attempt to seek protection against natural disasters and the ensuing misfortunes. Through them, the lay space of the city streets was transformed forever into a place of prayer and devotion. This panel is a rare case as it uses a purplish violet colour, simulating a sculpture on a giltwood carved pedestal. With its unusual form, it is disconcerting in the predominance and contrast of the white versus the rarely dominant purple, making this one of the most unusual registers known to exist. Lisbon production.