Francisco de Holanda

Francisco de Holanda
Self-portrait (ca. 1573), the artist presenting his book
Born	6 September 1517 Lisbon, Portugal
Died	19 June 1585 (1585-06-20) (aged 67) Lisbon, Portugal
Nationality	Portuguese
Occupation	Architect, sculptor, painter, essayist and historian

Francisco de Holanda (originally Francisco d'Olanda; 6 September 1517 – 19 June 1585) was a court painter, architect, and sculptor for the Portuguese King João III, and later for Sebastian of Portugal. He is considered to be one of the most important figures of the Portuguese Renaissance. Francisco was also an essayist, architect and historian. He represented the intelligible reality of the Holy Trinity through a "hypothetical" syntax of geometrical figures. He insisted on the contrast between the ideal plane, the incorporeal form and the "imperfect copy in the terrestrial zone". His visual language demonstrated a mixture of Neoplatonism, Christian Kabbalah and finally Lullism. In education, Francisco de Holanda emphasized mathematics and geometry, subsequently anticipating Clavius's reforms of the late 16th century.Sylvie Deswarte said that "Francisco de Holanda gives a privileged place to cosmography and astrology in the education of the painter. On par with geometry, mathematics and perspective, he recommended them [...] in order to reach the heavens in the hope of one day arriving to the Empyrean and realizing celestial works."