The Formative Years of a Master Born in Lisbon on October 25, 1848, José Luís Monteiro was destined to become a cornerstone of Portuguese architecture. His early education at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Lisbon provided a sturdy foundation, but it was his subsequent journey to Paris that truly expanded his artistic horizons. Immersed in the rigorous atmosphere of the École Nationale Suprollère des Beaux-Arts, Monteiro absorbed the sophisticated nuances of French architectural thought. This period of intense study allowed him to blend the classical traditions of his homeland with the swee…