André Soares (architect)

André Soares Ribeiro da Silva, more commonly known as André Soares (30 November 1720 – 26 November 1769) was a leading Portuguese sculptor and architect active in Northern Portugal during the 18th century.

Main façade of the Falperra Church, a project by André Soares.

Born in Braga, most of his work is found in and around this city. As a sculptor, he was responsible for designing the gilt woodwork (talha dourada) altarpieces of the Monastery of Tibães.[1] Outside Braga, his work as an architect include the audacious Falperra Church (with a heptagonal floorplan), the Church of Nosso Senhor dos Santos Passos in Guimarães and the Church of Our Lady of Lapa in Arcos de Valdevez, while in Braga he designed the Braga Town Hall, the Palácio do Raio, the Congregados Church, the Arco da Porta Nova (City Gate) among many other structures.

The work of André Soares is characterised by the exuberant decoration and the use of Rococo forms influenced by contemporary Northern European art.[2]

References
  1. Raymond S. Sayers -Portugal and Brazil in Transition 1968- Page 279 "In 1758-1759 the already cited architect Andre Soares da Silva designed the superb high altarpiece of the church of the Benedictine monastery of Tibaes, near Braga,"
  2. Lonely Planet Portugal Regis St. Louis - 2010 - Page 63 "Local artists such as André Soares built churches and palaces in a very decorative style, heavily influenced by Augsburg engravings..."


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