Chapel of St. Joseph

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Leiria > Ansião > Ansião > Netos

Location

The Chapel of S. Jose is located in the urbanization of Netos, in the locality of Ansião, which is part of the municipality of the same name. The building enjoys a prominent and isolated position, surrounded by a walled churchyard. Its location, at the confluence of the main streets of the village, gives it a striking presence in the local urban landscape.

A History Etched in Stone

This chapel is a testament to the religious architecture of the 16th and 17th centuries, periods that marked its original construction. Over time, the space underwent various remodelling interventions, with the one from 1741 being particularly visible, with the date inscribed above the lintel of the sacristy door. More recently, in 1994, general conservation works were carried out, keeping its history and relevance alive.

Architectural Details

With a simple rectangular plan, the chapel exhibits a mass that emphasizes horizontality. The two-pitched roof extends to cover the sacristy, a volume that stands out on the north facade. The main facade features a door with a segmental arch lintel and a small rhomboid oculus, elements that precede the angular gable topped by a cross and a simple bell-gable. Inside, the single nave, paved with mosaic, is crowned by a stuccoed ceiling in three planes, and a high choir marks the entrance to the sacred space. A stone pulpit, with its semicircular base and cushioned balcony resting on a column, is one of the focal points of the interior environment.

The Artistic Legacy at the Altar

The chancel, accessed through a triumphal arch, houses a unique altar. This is composed of a niche that holds a landscape painting with particular charm: mountains, houses, and the sea in the background, under a sky where a sun with human features shines, conveying a naive and popular perspective. The arch framing this niche still preserves traces of the original polychromy and includes an inscription that records its commission: "MANDADO [FAZER] / POR AUGU.O DUARTE / GADANHO" (COMMISSIONED BY AUGU.O DUARTE GADANHO). In the centre of the altar, a 16th-century image of Saint George on Horseback shines, which, with its popular and regional character, depicts the saint as a beardless youth in armour, riding his white horse and wielding a spear. A small stone sculpture of Saint Alexandra complements this artistic ensemble.

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