Três Vistas de Lisboa: Rare 18th-Century Paintings

The Museu de Lisboa - Palácio Pimenta presents three privately owned paintings depicting Rossio and Terreiro de Belém from the late 18th to early 19th centuries. This rare exhibition offers a glimpse into Lisbon's past through works seldom shown to the public.

Each painting shares interpretive challenges: only one is signed and dated, while the others spark debate over authorship, era, and context. Two views of Rossio are thought to represent the military parade of December 18, 1815, though one was actually painted in 1789 by José Caetano Ciríaco. The remaining works are attributed to traveling painters Henry L’Éveque or Nicolas Delerive, with a recent suggestion that the large Rossio panorama may be by Portuguese artist Joaquim António Marques.

These vistas bring viewers closer to Lisbon's population at the turn of the century and the appearance of two iconic public spaces—Belém beach and Rossio—so different today. It's a unique opportunity for art and history enthusiasts to see rarely exhibited pieces.