The Annunciation - wing of an altarpiece

The attribution is based on comparison with the picture of the Madonna and Child with Angels (A Pintura Maneirista em Portugal, exh. cat., Centro Cultural de Belém, 1994). Similar are the Madonna's expression, the veil and the angels. The artist was probably born in Évora in the Province of Alentejo. His mannerist style was influenced by Flemish prototypes, which he must have known through the art of Luis de Morales. João was appointed chief painter of the Inquisition in Évora as successor to Sebastiano Lopez. He was responsible for numerous festive decorations. The present picture is a late work by the artist, to be dated to circa 1580/90.
We are grateful to Rafael Salinas Calado and to José Alberto Seabra of the Museu Nacional de Arte Antigua, Lisbon, for suggesting the attribution in a letter of 19 June 1998.