1743

The construction of the chapel of S. João Baptista, in the Church of São Roque dos Jesuits, in Lisbon, was commissioned by the King to the Portuguese representative in Rome, Manuel Pereira de Sampaio. From the outset, conditions were imposed on the magnificence of the work and at the same time the maximum briefness was asked, without explaining the reasons for such haste but certainly related to the illness of King D. João V who had been the victim of an apoplexy that had left him partially paralyzed on the left part of his body. The chapel of S. João the Baptist had the peculiarity of being built in Italy. A very rich project that forced the sending of important sums required by Pope Benedict XIV for its completion. Once ready, the chapel was assembled inside the church of S. Peter, and then blessed, officiated as pontifical. Only later was it sent to Lisbon, all disassembled and carefully boxed. On September 1, 1747, the 3 ships that brought different precious objects and materials such as gilded bronzes and various species of marbles, as well as specialized workers, among them, the famous sculptor Alexandre Giusti, who never left Portugal again arrived in Lisbon. The constriction began in November and in the rush that took place, the foundation was already laid in December. But having only been completed in 1750, the King D. João V was seriously ill, and died, so could no longer see his monumental work accomplished. The chapel that was only placed in São Roque during the reign of King D. Joseph, January 13, 1751 is in itself a very valuable repository of art.