The Manueline, occasionally known as Portuguese late Gothic, is the sumptuous, composite Portuguese architectural style originating in the 16th century, during the Portuguese Renaissance and Age of Discoveries. Manueline is the style that marks the Portuguese artistic and architectural shift away from the late Gothic during the reign of King Manuel I (1469-1521).
During the reign of King Manuel I, the Portuguese aesthetic and architectural transition from late Gothic to Manueline were marked by the style (1469-1521).
However controversial for art historians, Manueline architecture is an ornamental expression in Portuguese architecture of enormous sea voyages and encounters with different civilizations. This is despite the fact that it was an era of tremendous controversy for art history
Indeed, it is a true expression of Portuguese architecture, spanning from religious buildings like the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon to military structures like the Tower of Belém with its civic decoration.
In addition, the mysterious astrological visions of the famous window of the Convent of Christ in Tomar, central Portugal, a bastion of the Templars in days gone by, and the doorway of Ponta Delgada Cathedral on São Miguel island in the Azores both depict the Manueline style of decoration (known in Portugal as Manuelino).
Various forms of the water and intrepid expeditions over the oceans to other continents, merging aspects of Christianity with shells, ropes, or bizarre and unusual aquatic creatures.
The armillary spheres, with their heraldic or religious meaning, are another example of this style’s decorative exaltation, which distinguishes it from the gothic and, in some ways, from Renaissance classicism.
Some instances of this style may be found all around Portugal, including the Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores. In the famous tile panels found at the National Palace of Sintra, this style is occasionally blended with other influences.
This style strives to ennoble the period’s iconic architecture without tampering with them. Probably because of this, Portuguese art is done in a way that conveys an emotional response.
