ÁLVARES, Baltasar

(b. ~1552 ?, d. 1624 ?)

Portuguese architect. He graduated in philosophy and theology at the universities of Coimbra and Évora. After the death of his uncle Afonso Álvares in 1580 (active from 1550) he was chosen to replace him in the position of main architect in the region of Alentejo, where he worked on the stately homes of Santarém, Almeirim and Salvaterra de Magos and the Monastery of Batalha. In 1579 he worked in the Jesuit convent St. Anthony in Lisbon, followed in 1598 the project for the Monastery of Sao Bento da Saúde, which currently houses the Assembly of the Republic. The Monastery of Sao Vicente de Fora is also attributed to him.

Exterior view

Philip III’s visit to Lisbon on his accession to the throne in 1619 was to have important consequences for seventeenth-century architecture on Portugal. To mark this visit, a large number of temporary triumphal arches were built, modeled on the monuments created to greet the archducal couple Albert and Isabella to Flanders in 1599. The visit of the Spanish king initiated a vogue for the Flemish Baroque. An example of this is the fa�ade of Nossa Senhora dos Grilos in Porto, started in 1622, which is a creation of Baltasar �lvares. It shows no trace of Central European influence.

The picture shows the fa�ade of the church.

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Exterior view

The picture shows the fa�ade of the church.

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