D. João v. (1689-1750)
oil on canvas. Pierre-antoine quillard (1703-1733) (atr. ), 1720 (m. )
ricardo espírito santo silva foundation (inv. 149), lisbon, portugal. Oval in shape, this painting depicts one of the main portuguese sovereigns of the modern age who reigned during almost the entire first half of the 18th century, between 1706 and 1750. The growing rapprochement with the main european artistic centers of his time (paris and rome) was a dominant characteristic of that period, leading to the importation of numerous works of art and the hiring of foreign artists. One of the painters who then went to portugal was the frenchman pierre-antoine quillard, who obtained the high position of royal painter and to whom the present portrait is attributed, where the sovereign appears quite young, with armor and a full head of hair next to the royal crown. In addition to promoting the french style of state portraiture, quillard, who died prematurely in 1733, also left us some religious compositions, as well as several engravings intended to illustrate works published at the time. A follower of watteau (1684-1721), he also performed some gallant scenes (casa cadaval collection), a genre he tried to introduce among us, although without much continuity (fress text). D. João v (lisbon, 22 oct. 1689-31 jul. 1750). Son of d. Pedro ii (1648-1706) and d. Maria sofia de neubourg (1666-1699), he was named joão francisco antónio josé bento bernardo and was acclaimed in jan. 1707. When he began his reign, the war of the spanish succession was in full swing, which for portugal meant the danger of that country's connection to the great continental power that was france. However, the accession to the austrian throne of emperor charles iii, pretender to the spanish throne, facilitated the peace that was signed in utrecht in 1714. Portugal saw its sovereignty over the amazon lands recognized and, in the following year, peace with spain guaranteed the restitution of the colony of sacramento. D. João v learned from that war not to give too much importance to european issues and the sincerity of agreements; from then on he remained unalterably faithful to his atlantic, commercial and political interests, reaffirming in this sense the alliance with england. In relation to brazil, which was undoubtedly his main concern, d. João v tried to channel a considerable number of emigrants there, expanded the administrative, military and technical staff, reformed taxes and expanded sugar cultivation. Despite this, portugal entered a phase of economic difficulties, due to the smuggling of gold from brazil and the difficulties of the eastern empire. He got married on june 9th. 1708 with d. Maria ana de austria (linz, 7 sept. 1683-palácio de belém, 14 aug. 1754), daughter of emperor leopold i and his third wife leonor madalena, who was buried in the monastery of s. João nepomuceno, of the german discalced carmelites, from where her heart was taken to germany. D. João v was buried in the monastery of s. Vicente de fora. Date: circa 1720.
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