Visitation

The youngest of the painters working at the Viseu workshop, and whose activity is clearly documented, was António Vaz, the son of the Viseu painter Gaspar Vaz. His apprenticeship (in 1537, he was already active as a painter) took place at a time of intense activity at the Viseu workshop, which already corresponded to Vasco Fernandes’ final period of activity.
This somewhat damaged panel, representing the Visitation, with a beautiful background of Renaissance architecture, originated from a church in Trancoso and corresponds to an initial period marked by the assimilation of classical vocabulary and the models for composition of the workshop at which he trained.
The painting represents the scene of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, with the figures of Mary and Elizabeth being depicted in the centre of the composition. Behind the Virgin is part of a staff that suggests the presence of St. Joseph.