The painter António Carvalho da Silva (1850-1893) adopted the name of his birthplace as his surname, becoming known as Silva Porto.
The Douro Museum is currently hosting an exhibition featuring 60 drawings by Silva Porto, showcasing the formative years of this influential Portuguese artist. The exhibition, which runs until May 20, pays homage to the painter who, despite his untimely death at 42, left behind a vast body of work that has inspired generations of landscape artists in Portugal.
Visitors to the exhibition can trace Silva Porto’s artistic journey, beginning with his early studies at the Industrial School of Porto at age 12, followed by his time at the Porto Academy of Fine Arts from age 15. The exhibition also highlights his period as a scholarship student in Paris at the School of Fine Arts from ages 23 to 29, as well as his stays in the Oise Valley, where he joined the circle of plein-air painters of Daubigny, and his travels through Italy with companion Marques de Oliveira.
Silva Porto’s paintings are characterized by their vibrant light and color, drawing inspiration primarily from nature. He is credited with introducing naturalism to Portugal. After completing his education, he taught at the Lisbon Academy, where he was known for taking his students outdoors to paint in the open air.
Following Silva Porto’s death, his artistic estate was auctioned in December 1893. His Artistic Guild acquired a collection of 400 drawings, which later became part of the National Society of Fine Arts when the Guild merged with the Promotional Society in 1901. These works are now preserved in the Society’s collection.
The new temporary exhibition at the Douro Museum is the result of a partnership with the National Society of Fine Arts. It is under the general coordination of Fernando Seara, with João Paulo Queiroz as curator and Natália Fauvrelle as executive coordinator.
The Douro Museum was conceived as a multifaceted, multi-site territorial museum, dedicated to collecting, preserving, identifying, and showcasing the vast museological and documentary heritage scattered throughout the Douro Demarcated Region.
