O altar de Nossa Senhora de Belém do Mosteiro dos Jerónimos de Lisboa (1734): um raro exemplo de talha regência

The altar of the Holy Family, originally dedicated to Our Lady of Bethlehem, located on the right side of the main chapel of the Church of the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon, has a history that dates back to the founding of the monastery. The invocation of Our Lady of Bethlehem was central to the devotion of the people of Lisbon, and her image was graced with rich offerings, although little is known about the original altarpiece structure. However, a notarial contract dated 1734 reveals, for the first time, the specifics of a commission for a new altar, including the name of the woodcarver and the patrons, as well as some relevant clauses. The purpose of this text is to analyse the commission, identify the participants, situate the artistic production of the master woodcarver in his time, and place the work within the broader artistic context of pre­earthquake Lisbon.