Jorge Afonso

Jorge Afonso was an important Portuguese painter (* 1470, † 1540).

Jorge Afonso I was 1508 and in 1529 appointed by King Manuel again by King John III court painter. He worked mainly in Lisbon. Here he stopped near the church Igreja de São Domingos a major studio, where a whole generation of Portuguese painter was trained - among others Cristovão de Figueiredo, Garcia Fernandes, Gregório Lopes and Jorge Leal. Also Vasco Fernandes / Grão Vasco in 1514 worked with him. Today, his works can be found for example in the National Museum of Ancient Art (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga ), the most important art museum in Portugal.

The most important altarpieces that are associated with Jorge Afonso, were given by Queen Eleanor of Portugal, widow of King John II and sister of King Manuel I in order. For she painted Jorge Afonso in 1515, the main altarpiece of the convent Convento da Madre de Deus in Lisbon. This magnificent altarpiece is now in the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon.

Between 1520 and 1530 painted Afonso 14 tables for the main altar of the monastery Convento de Jesus in Setúbal - again on behalf of Queen Eleanor of Portugal. The panel paintings are now exhibited in the museum of the monastery.

Jorge Afonso's studio is also attributed to the decor on the walls of the monastery church of the Convento de Cristo in Tomar of 1530.