Filinto Elísio

Category: Nature > Garden

District: Lisboa > Oeiras > Figueirinha

Location

The monument dedicated to Filinto Elísio is located in the vast Parque dos Poetas (Poets' Park), a significant green space in the locality of Figueirinha, in the municipality of Oeiras. This park extends over an area that combines plateau zones with gentle slopes towards the Tagus River estuary. Its topographical layout offers broad and encompassing perspectives of the surrounding landscape, with the Tagus estuary and the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop.

The environment is that of a well-integrated urban park, where art and nature complement each other. The figure of Filinto Elísio is incorporated into this setting that celebrates Portuguese culture and poetry through various sculptural representations, inviting visitors on a journey of discovery.

The Legacy of a Neoclassical Poet

Filinto Elísio, whose real name was Francisco Manuel do Nascimento, was a prominent figure of Portuguese Neoclassicism, distinguishing himself as a poet and translator. Born in Lisbon in 1734 and died in Paris in 1819, after almost four decades of absence from his homeland, his life was marked by erudition. His pseudonym was given to him by the Marquise of Alorna, to whom he taught Latin and with whom he maintained a profound intellectual dialogue.

His work reflects the main Neoclassical trends, occasionally imbued with a pre-Romantic sensibility. Filinto Elísio was a fervent admirer of Horace and cultivated various genres of the classical tradition, leaving a rich legacy of sonnets, madrigals, epigrams, short stories, epistles, satires, and, notably, odes. His presence in the Parque dos Poetas is a tribute to his significant contribution to national literature.

Artistic Representation

The memory of Filinto Elísio is perpetuated in the Parque dos Poetas through a unique sculptural work, known as "Pétala 15." This piece of art was conceived by the sculptor António Matos, who sought to capture the essence of the poet in an expressive visual form. The sculpture is a point of interest that invites reflection on the life and work of this important literary figure.

The integration of Filinto Elísio's figure in this park underscores the value of his contribution to Portuguese literature, offering an example of the fusion between literary art and plastic art. It is an invitation for the visitor to appreciate cultural heritage in a natural and inspiring environment.

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