Table 1 presents the 26 painting sets that were studied in the projet framework. The sets selected obey to four criteria:
1.Chronology
The project have selected representative examples of mural paintings in Evora and its area of influence (specially Montemor-o-Novo e Vila Vicosa) dated from the reign of John III and its Government with humanistic aspiration until the beginning of Mannerism.
2. Thematic.
The range goes from paintings that follow: a) erudite European renaissance and classic models such as allegory, mythology, groteschi, chiaroscuro; b) picture of the everyday life of the different social classes; c) musicology universe and d) presence of elements, mostly with links to the iconographic universe of the Portuguese Discoveries or Portuguese diplomatic embassy’s ( e.g. chinoiseries, exotic animals).
Almost all these themes have origin in prints with diverse backgrounds (Italian, Spanish, Flemish, German). Another aspect explored was the possible connections with the national and international literary sources that were widely publicized in that period of time in Portugal (e.g. the Cancioneiro Geral, de Garcia de Resende 1516; Da Pintura Antigua of Francisco de Holanda, 1548; Polyphonia Schola Cantorum, 1533 or the Metamorpheses of Ovidio, published in Evora 1574).
3. Points of contact and divergence with other artistic expressions
The murals selected offer stylistic, material and technical subjects to compare with other artistic expressions from the same period of time ( ex. sculptures, easel paintings or other decorative architecture elements). Special attention will be given to the paintings attributed to Francisco Campos (P11 and P20), Giraldo Fernandes de Prado (P9,P14 and P16) and Jose de Escovar workshop (P3, P4, P7,P12 and P18), all easel and mural painters.
4. Paintings authenticity
The set of mural paintings selected do not seem to have been intervened, thus keeping its originality intact. It is a unique opportunity to study the painters palette (and its alterations), materials (composition and origin) and painting techniques (fresco and secco).