Mural Corpus
Baco (Bacchus) (1944)
Wood-mounted standalone fresco preparatory work for the Café Rialto murals. It includes pigment tests along the top edge and sketches of figures for both murals in the cafe. Part of the Dordio Gomes estate.
As Artes (The Arts) (n.d.-1944)
Fresco commissioned for Café Rialto.
The café closed in 1972 and the space was repurposed. As of May 2025 it is being used as the Porto premises of Clube Millennium BCP.
A Alegria da Vida (The Joy of Life) (n.d.-1944)
Fresco commissioned for Café Rialto. This work appears referred to as “Bacchanal” in a 1958 publication.
The café closed in 1972 and the space was repurposed. As of May 2025 it is being used as the Porto premises of Clube Millennium BCP.
Batismo de Cristo (Baptism of Christ) (n.d.-1947)
Fresco commissioned for the baptistry of the Church of Our Lady of Conception as part of a set of five panels. In addition to this main panel representing the Baptism of Christ, four other panels take the theme of baptism to convey the global reach of the Portuguese Catholic Church, in line with nationalist and colonialist values of official discourse at the time.
Cristianização da Península Ibérica (Christianisation of the Iberian Peninsula) (n.d.-1947)
Fresco commissioned for the baptistry of the Church of Our Lady of Conception as part of a set of five panels. In addition to the main panel representing the Baptism of Christ, four other panels take the theme of baptism to convey the global reach of the Portuguese Catholic Church, in line with nationalist and colonialist values of official discourse at the time.
Evangelização da África Portuguesa (Evangelisation of Portuguese Africa) (n.d.-1947)
Fresco commissioned for the baptistry of the Church of Our Lady of Conception as part of a set of five panels. In addition to the main panel representing the Baptism of Christ, four other panels take the theme of baptism to convey the global reach of the Portuguese Catholic Church, in line with nationalist and colonialist values of official discourse at the time.
As Missões Católicas no Brasil (Catholic Missions in Brazil) (n.d.-1947)
Fresco commissioned for the baptistry of the Church of Our Lady of Conception as part of a set of five panels. In addition to the main panel representing the Baptism of Christ, four other panels take the theme of baptism to convey the global reach of the Portuguese Catholic Church, in line with nationalist and colonialist values of official discourse at the time.
O Apostolado do Maduré - Índia (The Apostolate at Maduré - India) (n.d.-1947)
Fresco commissioned for the baptistry of the Church of Our Lady of Conception as part of a set of five panels. In addition to the main panel representing the Baptism of Christ, four other panels take the theme of baptism to convey the global reach of the Portuguese Catholic Church, in line with nationalist and colonialist values of official discourse at the time.
A Assunção da Virgem (The Assumption of the Virgin) (1952-1953)
Fresco commissioned for the chancel arch of the church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The top section depicts the Assumption of Mary, according to the dogma proclaimed in 1950 by pope Pius XII, represented on the bottom left section. The bottom right section shows the Apostles around Mary’s tomb.
O Mito de Prometeu (The Myth of Prometheus) (1953-1954)
Fresco commissioned for the entrance hall of the Architecture Pavilion of Porto’s School of Fine Arts (today Carlos Ramos Pavilion of the School of Fine Arts of the University of Porto), as an example of the integration of the arts and a masterclass in fresco painting.
As Origens de Portugal (The Origins of Portugal) (c.1956-1957)
Fresco commissioned for the main staircase of Porto’s City Hall. Part of a set of four panels depicting figures associated with the history of the city in connection with periods or episodes of relevance in the national(ist) historical imaginary. One of the four panels, severely damaged, was in the process of being restored at the time of digitisation and is not included in this corpus.
A Expansão Geográfica (The Geographical Expansion) (c.1956-1957)
Fresco commissioned for the main staircase of Porto’s City Hall. Part of a set of four panels depicting figures associated with the history of the city in connection with periods or episodes of relevance in the national(ist) historical imaginary. One of the four panels, severely damaged, was in the process of being restored at the time of digitisation and is not included in this corpus.
O Porto Romântico (Romantic Porto) (c.1956-1957)
Fresco commissioned for the main staircase of Porto’s City Hall. Part of a set of four panels depicting figures associated with the history of the city in connection with periods or episodes of relevance in the national(ist) historical imaginary. One of the four panels, severely damaged, was in the process of being restored at the time of digitisation and is not included in this corpus.
Cortes de Leiria 1254 (Court of Leiria 1254) (1958-1961)
Fresco commissioned for the Sessions Room of Porto’s Palace of Justice. Part of a set of two panels depicting episodes of relevance in Portugal’s judiciary history.
Cortes de Coimbra 1385 (Court of Coimbra 1385) (1958-1961)
Fresco commissioned for the Sessions Room of Porto’s Palace of Justice. Part of a set of two panels depicting episodes of relevance in Portugal’s judiciary history.