The National Tile Museum, in 1509 Madre de Deus Convent, is a monumental tile treasure house portraying its 500 years history in Portugal. Highlights include 16th century Moorish and Flemish panels and 18th century view of the city prior to the earthquake as well as 17th century pattern tile panels.
The Convent was intended to give shelter to the nuns of Santa Clara Order. In spite of the rigorous rulings of humility, penitence and above all poverty that ruled the Clarissas Order, the Convent was enlarged and enriched with important works of art and decoration, especially during D. João III, D. João V and D. José kingdoms. Being the object of royal protection contributed greatly for the remarkable architectonic and decorative quality of its spaces – Church, Sacristy, high and low Choirs and Santo António Chapel- totally filled with great painters works and wood carved.
After a first contact with the materials and the techniques used in making tiles, the exhibition shows Hispano-Moresque pieces, made with the cuerda seca and arista techniques of the beginning of 16th century.
In the middle of the 16th century an innovative technique was developed in Italy - the Majolica – which made possible to paint directly on the tile surface without mixing the colours during firing, allowing the realization of large figurative compositions.
An example of a remarkable realization in the Majolica technique is the Nossa Senhora da Vida panel, ca.1580, one of the first masterpieces of Portuguese tile revetment, attributed to Marçal de Matos.
From the 17th century there are rich pattern tiles. An example of this are the «Italo-Flemish» motives like «diamond points», «camellias», «vine leaves», «shell», among others. On the Museum it can also been seen, small panels – DEVOTIONAL TILE PANELS – with religious scenes of a very naïve execution; and the ALTAR-FRONTALS, «rich faked cloths» decorated with motives of oriental influence.
From the multicoloured panels of 17th century that can be seen on the exuberant flower panels, there followed on 17th century blue-cobalt painted tile revetment, influenced by Dutch tile revetment and imported Chinese porcelain.
On the first quarter of 18th century, several tile painters gained name through their aesthetic and technical quality. This period became known as the «Masters Cycle».
On the 2nd quarter of 18th century-Grand Production Cycle- - tile production increased considerably boost by the portuguese Baroque style.
From the end of 18th century and beginning of 19th, Church and Nobility ceased having the exclusivity of tile revetment commands, starting Bourgeoisie, the new social class, using pattern tile for the coating of buildings (ca.1830 until 20th century). Several factories in Lisbon or in Oporto, produced patterns tiles definitely bringing this art to urban space.
20th century gave birth to a diversity of styles and directions, namely on the field of architectural ceramics. Styles like Art Nouveau and Art Déco are also presents in tiles decoration.
Ideas presented by qualified contemporary painters and ceramists have contributed for tile utilisation being, in Portugal, not only an historical fact, but also a contemporary presence in daily urban spaces.

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