Exhibition reveals identity of 18th-century artist ‘Eques Faria’

IEntitled “Cavaleiro Faria. A Portuguese designer of the 18th century”, this will be the first monographic exhibition dedicated to the enigmatic Portuguese designer of the second half of the 18th century, also known as “Eques Faria”.

With this name, he signed dozens of drawings, and an in-depth investigation carried out by the curators of the exhibition, Alexandra Markl and Celina Bastos, has now revealed his identity as Inocêncio de Faria e Aguiar (1709-1792).

The research made it possible to outline his biography and gather a significant part of the artistic work of this “unique and original bird pen designer”, documented between 1761 and 1771, dates inscribed in his drawings, with 1783 being his last known dated work, according to the National Museum of Ancient Art (MNAA), which holds the artist’s most relevant collection.

The temporary exhibition, which will remain open until June 25, presents the work of this official of the Treasury Council, Knight of the Order of Christ and of the Royal House, son and grandson of Goldsmiths.

Inocêncio de Faria e Aguiar was an amateur artist who drew in his spare time, and in his graphic works he used exclusively pen and brown ink, the same materials he also used to write.

According to the commissioners, Faria was a unique artist, both in graphic expression and in the subjects he addressed, in addition to having illustrated some handwritten books, now on display for the first time.

The artist explored an essentially profane theme, made up of unusual subjects at the time in Portugal, namely military scenes, ruins, countryside landscapes, seascapes, popular festivities, “which in national art were just taking the first steps, but which were very present in the collection of paintings and foreign prints”, point out the flight attendants.

Born in Lisbon, Inocêncio de Faria e Aguiar produced drawings “not as studies but as final works, with their own character and dignity, and thought to be consumed and admired for themselves”.

In addition to a well-known engraving and book illustration, he crossed his activity as an artist with the work of a calligrapher, producing mostly elaborate compositions, sometimes inspired by Italian, Dutch and French engravings, which characterized his visual culture.

The exhibition is complemented by some works belonging to other public and private collections to give an overview of the artist’s work, according to the MNAA.

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