Portuguese maritime iconography is an invaluable resource to nautical archaeology, but is seldom studied. There exist few catalogs of images of Portuguese seafaring. The purpose of this project is to compile a comprehensive catalog of Portuguese iconography from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries; any pertinent information regarding will be extracted from those images.

Methodology: A survey of churches, museums, and libraries was conducted throughout Portugal during the summer of 2002.  All places visited were contacted prior to leaving to gain access to and/or permission for the documentation of relevant imagry. Once in Portugal the places were again contacted to set up appointments for viewing the images.

Documentation included photography and written descriptions. Iconography will be cataloged by media and further subdivided by date. Photography within museums and churches is limited to non-flash photography which necessitated the use of a sturdy tripod and 35mm slide film to capture as much light as possible. A digital camera was also used. The instant digital images ensured quality control as well as providing a backup in case of destruction or loss of the rolls of films.

Each image will be analyzed according to the following format: title, location, date, theme, ship type, and full description of nautical features. This working format will be further detailed as necessary, but the goal is to have a simple and tenable guideline to follow.

	Map of Japan (Luis Teixeira), 1612. In A. Ortello, Theatro d'el Orbe de la Tierra, Lisbon, Biblioteca Nacional.
Illumination. Representation of a Nau. Beginning of 16th century In Leitura Nova, Livro Segundo dos Misticos.
	Caravel from the Altarpiece of Santa Auta. First quarter of the 16th century. Lisbon, Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga.

Index

Bibliography Related Links Portuguese Museums and Institutions with Iconography

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The project director wishes to thank the Instituto Português de Arqueologia and its Centro Nacional de Arqueologia Náutica e Subaquática, the Direcção Regional da Cultura (DRC), the Nautical Archaeology Program at Texas A&M University, and the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, for the support granted to this project.