16/09/2026
👉 The Fountain of the King and His People
Lisbon in the 16th century was booming. Its population was growing rapidly, around 100,000 to 120,000, among the largest of any city in Europe. Its enviable position, like that of Rome, on the several hills at the mouth of the Tagus River, opened the city to the world.
This intriguing anonymous Flemish 16th century painting of the King’s Fountain in the Lisbon Alfama, Chafariz d’el Rei, has been subject of speculation over its provenance and date, mainly because of its depiction of a crowd from all social strata and walks of life and in many (often water-related) trades in a public square.
The origins of this public fountain, Chafariz d’el Rei, go at least back to King Afonso III (1246–1279) and King Dinis (1279–1325), his successor, taking advantage of the excellent water run-off from the slopes of the Alfama, and it is from this latter monarch that the fountain took its name.
In 1487, under order from King John II, the water was channeled to the exterior of the city walls. The fountain was built at the point where the ancient Moorish Wall, tumbling down from the Castle of St George met the 1370s Wall, which protected the waterfront. With that change, the ships of the India Run could be supplied with fresh water. This was the principal source of water for the entire city and its waters were thought to clear one’s breathing.
The water streamed out lukewarm, but after settling for a short period of time it took on a great purity and freshness, so that it was referred as “a pleasure to drink”. At the time of the painting there were six spouts, each in the form of an animal, although in the painting they appear to be identical – possibly dogs’ heads. Animal heads were a standard design. In following decades, the supply head of water at the Chafariz d’el Rei was increased to nine outlets or bicas, of which each one was destined for a different social group.
