José da Costa e Silva

Architect

1747 – 1819

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Who was José da Costa e Silva?

José da Costa e Silva was a Portuguese architect. His work helped establish Neoclassical architecture in Portugal and colonial Brazil.

Costa e Silva studied architecture in Rome, where he had contact with Italian Neoclassicism. He later became Royal architect, and headed several important projects in Portugal. Among his most important works are the Royal Theatre of São Carlos in Lisbon and the Military Hospital near Torres Vedras. He is also believed to be the author of Seteais Palace in Sintra. In Lisbon, Costa e Silva and the Italian Francisco Xavier Fabri created the project for the Royal Palace of Ajuda, which was however too grandiose and could not be completed.

In 1807, Costa e Silva went to Brazil together with John VI and the Portuguese court, which had to escape the invasion of Portugal by Napoleonic troops. In Rio de Janeiro, which became capital of the Portuguese Empire, Costa e Silva designed an opera house in Neoclassical style. This opera house, called Royal Theatre of St John and modelled after the São Carlos of Lisbon, was one of the first Neoclassical buildings in Brazilian soil. It was later destroyed in a fire.

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Born
1747
Vila de Povos
Nationality
  • Portugal
Profession
Lived in
  • Lisbon
    (1779 - )
Died
1819

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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