Corporations in Lisbon (15th-17th centuries): Relevance, urban setting, patron churches

Abstract

This article aims to characterize the present state of analysis about the complex and diversified problem of the craft corporations in Lisbon between the 15th and 17th centuries, particularly those associated with artistic culture or involving elements of an artistic nature. The article methodically analyses fundamental concepts (craft guild, municipal ordinance, street plan [arruamento], craft bylaws [regimento], confraternity [confrarias], brotherhood [irmandade], commitment [compromisso], craft banners, among others); identifies the institutional mechanisms essential to the daily functioning of the guilds – namely, the House of the Twenty-Four of Lisbon [Casa dos Vinte e Quatro de Lisboa] and the Municipal Senate [Senado da Câmara] – and explores the operationality of urban administration taking into account new realities such as All Saints Royal Hospital. The analysis is based, in turn, on the relevance of corporations, the urban framework and the patron churches. As model examples we address the specific cases of goldsmiths, painters, and carpenters/stonemasons. Relevant bibliography, recent and old, is presented, as well nuclear documentary fonds for this type of research. Finally, we propose new lines of research about the guilds in Lisbon during the chronology in question.