Miguel António do Amaral

Miguel António do Amaral (Lisbon; 1710 – Lisbon; 1780) was a Portuguese court painter to the House of Braganza, progressing in the years from the household of Joseph I of Portugal to that of Maria I of Portugal and finally to the household of José, Prince of Brazil.

1773 Commission
In 1773, Amaral was commissioned by Joseph I of Portugal to make two sets of portraits featuring the King and his wife, Mariana Victoria of Spain. After the completion of his grandfather's set of portraits in mid-1773, José, Prince of Beira ordered a similar commission by Amaral. However, he also asked for a second portrait of José, for his mother, Maria I of Portugal. These works would gain Amaral incredible fame throughout Portugal and Europe as an able portrait painter, having done five incredibly detailed and large portraits in one year.