Cantate Dominum: música e espiritualidade no Azulejo Barroco

“Cantate Dominum: Music and Spirituality in Baroque Azulejo by Luzia Rocha surprises us with the revelation of an art that we have always known existed but is now transformed into cascades of blue, arranged in a luminous and pedagogical synthesis. We find ourselves entering churches, convents and manor houses and admiring the masterful azulejo panels that artisan genius has developed over centuries. Among the multiplicity of motifs are familiar epic figures holding trumpets and innocent seraphim singing songs of praise. What we certainly would not have guessed is that these themes would occupy a significant place in azulejo art.

The work brought to light has the merit of synthesising a style to make it more prominent and evident. Syntheses have the merit of gathering what is dispersed and allowing us to better see the unity of scattered notes. The azulejo panels with musical themes, in the most diverse locations, form a true symphony in which the visitor contributes to the composition with the tone of their gaze, intensity of emotions, elevation and depth of feelings, and prolonged contemplation.” Mário Tavares de Oliveira