Afonso I of the Kongo to Manuel I of Portugal Requesting Religious ParaphernaliaKongo Kingdom, June 8, 1517
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.In his extensive correspondence with European leaders, Afonso I (r. 1509–42) portrayed himself as a devout Christian who took a hands-on approach to matters of faith. An ongoing subject of his petitions to the Vatican was to have a Kongo bishop designated. In this letter he requests religious artifacts such as crucifixes, breviaries, and images of Catholic saints from his Portuguese counterpart Manuel I (r. 1495–1521).
Artwork Details
- Title: Afonso I of the Kongo to Manuel I of Portugal Requesting Religious ParaphernaliaKongo Kingdom, June 8, 1517
- Date: June 8, 1517
- Geography: Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Culture: Kongo Kingdom
- Medium: Ink on paper
- Dimensions: 8 1/4 x 11 1/4 in. (21 x 28.7 cm)
- Classification: Documents
- Credit Line: Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing