Procession and Auto de Fé
Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
National Library of Portugal
António Costa Lobo
National Library of Portugal
c. 1741
Unknown artist
BNP RES. 3936 V
Engraving
H: 132 cm; w: 158 cm
António Costa Lobo
Engraving
Amsterdam
The Inquisition was established during the Verona Council of 1183 for the purposes of the judgment of heresy by the Roman Catholic Church. Necessitated by the emergence of various religious movements and the popularisation of different interpretations of Christian doctrine in opposition to the Roman Church, it was initially called the Episcopal Inquisition because it was administrated by the bishops. Later, in 1230, the Church tried to reform the role and actions of the Inquisition by recruiting professionals mainly from the Dominican Order.
The new inquisitors judged heresy using local authorities under the Inquisition's procedures. In 1542, three years before the Council of Trent, Pope Paul III established a system of Courts as demanded by the "Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition". The Inquisition was established in 1536 in Portugal following a request from King João III.
Following judgment, defendants were submitted to punishment; a ritual of public penance of condemned heretics and apostates, the so called Auto de Fé. In these engravings two important moments of this theatrical religious scene are observed: the Procession taking place in Ribeira Square in Lisbon – close to the Royal Palace of King João V – and the condemned being burned alive at the stake wearing sambenitos, clothing with a red cross.
The Portuguese Inquisition expanded to the colonies: Brazil, Cape Verde and Goa, where it continued as an activity of the religious courts until 1812. In Goa, the processes mostly concentrated on Jews, the Hindu communities and Indian Muslims. The violence of the Inquisition in Goa was so intense that Voltaire wrote: "Goa is sadly famous for its Inquisition, which is contrary to humanity as much as to commerce. The Portuguese monks deluded us into believing that the Indians were worshipping the Devil, while it was them who served him."
The theme of these engravings is related to the brutality of the Inquisition. The Inquisition acted against those whom it deemed heretical and apostates. First they were humiliated and walked through the city in Procession. Then a mass would was said where the sermon preached the morality of the ceremony. Finally they were punished in public in the square.
The engraving is published in the Annales d'Espagne et de Portugal, contenant tout ce qui s'est passé de plus important dans ces deux royaumes & dans les autres Parties de l'Europe, de même que dans les Indes Orientales & Occidentales, depuis l'établissement de ces deux Monarchies jusqu'á présent. Avec la Description de tout ce qu'il y a de plus remarquable en Espagne & en Portugal, Amsterdam, 1741.
Donated by António Costa Lobo
Couto, M. do, Livro das plantas e monteas de todas as Fábricas das Inquisições deste Reino e India, ordenado por mandado do Illustrissimo e Reverendíssimo Senhor Dom Francisco de Castro Bispo Inquisidor Geral e do Conselho de Estado de Sua Majestade, Anno Domini 1634. Por Matheus do Couto, Architecto das Inquisições deste Reino.
Couto, M. do, Livro dos Evangelhos que serve na Mesa do Conselho Geral do Sancto Officio da Inquisiçam ordenado por mandado do Illustrissimo Senhor Bispo Dom Pedro de Castilho Inquisidor Geral nestes Reynos e Senhorios de Portugal. No Anno de MDCVIII.
Bailly, J. S., Lettres sur l'origine des sciences, et sur celle des peuples de l ' Asie adressées à M. de Voltaire par M. Bailly, & précédées de quelques lettres de M. de Voltaire à l'Auteur, Londres, Elmesly et Paris, Debure, 1777. (suivi de): Lettres sur l'Atlantide de Platon et sur l'ancienne histoire de l'Asie pour servir de suite aux lettres sur l'origine des sciences, adressées à M. de Voltaire par M. Bailly, London and Paris, 1779.
Rui Oliveira Lopes "Procession and Auto de Fé" in "Discover Baroque Art", Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://baroqueart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;BAR;pt;Mus11_A;44;en
MWNF Working Number: PT 47
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