Blacksmiths' Chapel, annexed to the Mother Church of Oliveira do Hospital

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Coimbra > Oliveira do Hospital > Oliveira do Hospital > Centro Histórico

Construction Date

First half of the 14th century.

Architectural Style

14th-century Gothic.

Location

Attached to the north facade of the Igreja Matriz (Main Church) of Oliveira do Hospital.

Historical Significance

Considered one of the most important Gothic funerary spaces in Portugal, both for the works it contains and for being one of the few medieval sepulchral chapels of private initiative still existing.

Classification

National Monument since 1936.

Founder

Built by Domingos Joanes, a 14th-century nobleman, to be his burial place and that of his wife, D. Domingas Sabachais.

Dimensions

The chapel has a rectangular shape of approximately 6.50m x 3.50m.

Architectural Features

, Pointed barrel vault ceiling that is continuous.

, Two small quadrilobed oculi for lighting.

Sculptural Ensemble

, By Mestre Pero, an Aragonese sculptor who played a key role in the evolution of Portuguese Gothic sculpture.

, Includes an altarpiece, an image of the Virgin with Child, two tombs, and a statue of a Medieval Knight.

Altarpiece and Virgin with Child

, Made of polychrome limestone, with details of Hispano-Arabic tiles and granite.

, Represents the Virgin with Child, flanked by the sun, moon, donors in prayer, and two angels.

, The statue of the Virgin is crowned, holding the Child in her left hand and a flower in her right, with a slight twist that suggests movement.

Tombs of Domingos Joanes and Domingas Sabachais

, Made of granite, with lids and recumbent figures in Portunhos limestone.

, Tomb of Domingos Joanes: Portrayed with a long beard, long robes, holding gloves and a sword. At his feet, a greyhound.

, Tomb of Domingas Sabachais: Portrayed with long robes, a veil on her head, hands crossed over her belly, and at her feet, a smaller dog.

Medieval Knight

, Statue of a knight in full armor, helmet, mace, sword, and shield, mounted on a horse ready for combat or parade.

, There are two examples of this statue, one in the chapel and the other in the National Museum of Machado de Castro.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capela_dos_Ferreiros

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt