O Ensino da Historia da Arte nos Lyceus e as excursões escolares

The book explores how art history was meant to become a regular part of secondary education in early‑20th‑century Portugal. Using a recently uncovered circular from October 1906, it shows how school excursions to national monuments were proposed as a vital pedagogical tool, and it follows the ensuing debate inside the Lyceum council of Porto. The author situates the discussion within the broader challenge of giving students a sensible, affordable exposure to the country’s artistic heritage.

Drawing on more than thirty years of articles, lectures, and small‑scale studies, the author argues that the prevailing use of illustrations in textbooks is often careless and detached from true aesthetic principles. He points out that, unlike the fine‑arts academy in Lisbon, Portuguese lyceums lacked a structured curriculum for visual culture, leaving teachers without guidance on how to blend drawing, sculpture, and architectural basics with historical context. The manuscript combines unpublished documents with a clear call for a rational, tradition‑respecting reform of art education.