Francisco Henriques

Who was Francisco Henriques?

Francisco Henriques was a Flemish Renaissance painter active in Portugal in the early 16th century.

Around the year 1500 Francisco Henriques came to Portugal from Bruges, where he may have been a disciple of Gerard David. It is thought that his first work in Portugal was the main altarpiece of Viseu Cathedral, leading a workshop that included Portuguese painter Vasco Fernandes, then in the beginning of his career. Among his influences was the early Dutch engraver Master I. A. M. of Zwolle.

His next important work was a large polyptych for the main chapel of the Church of St Francis in Évora, as well as altarpieces for the side chapels of this same church. These panels are now distributed in several museums.

Together with Cristóvão de Figueiredo, Francisco Henriques continued to work in Lisbon until 1518, when he fell victim to a plague epidemic.