Joaquim Possidónio Narciso da Silva

Born in Lisbon in 1806, Joaquim Possidónio Narciso da Silva became known as an architect, archaeologist, photographer, and defender of built heritage. As a child he went with the Portuguese court to Rio de Janeiro, where he studied, before continuing his training in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts.

Back in Portugal, he worked on architectural and urban projects in Lisbon and played an important role in studying and promoting the country’s historical monuments. He was one of the founders of the Royal Association of Portuguese Civil Architects and Archaeologists, an important institution in the development of archaeology and heritage protection in Portugal.

He died in Lisbon in 1896. Today he is remembered not only for his own work, but also for helping shape a lasting public awareness that historic buildings and archaeological sites deserved to be documented, valued, and preserved.