Old Goa - The Paintings & Gilt Woodwork

THE GILT WOODWORK
Gilt woodwork in Old Goa:
The gilt woodwork in Old Goa can be divided into three periods. The first one follows the renascenist and mannerist styles of Portugal. The most important retables are imported from Portugal and they serve as models to those made in Goa.

The second period which was named the period of national style by Prof. Robert Smith, is characterised by the Salmonic columns which are different from those we find in Portugal although the proportions may be identical.

In the third period, called the Rocaille or Rococo period, the woodwork is not gilded but polychromatic. The compositions are not elegant and this period reveals the decadence of this sculptural type which dominated for two centuries.

The gilt woodwork in Goa is more original than the one we find in Brazil, although it may not excel in beauty and importance the Brazilian gilt woodwork.

The pulpits are more original, not only regarding their composition but also in the distribution of ornaments, As far as the composition is concerned the pulpits are completely different from the pulpits in Portugal although they may exhibit similar decoration.