Brief Biography-João Cristino da Silva, born in Alfama, Lisbon, was an illustrator and painter. He entered the Lisbon Academy of Fine arts in 1841. João left in 1847 due to a rebellious leaning towards his instruction and took up engraving for two years before returning to art. He exhibited in Paris, where his painting Five Artists in Sintra was sold to King Ferdinand II, gaining recognition. He visited Paris and Switzerland for brief periods and became influenced by the works of Caspar David Friedrich. He became a stand-in Professor at the academy for nearly a decade until his state of mind deteriorated. He was eventually committed to an asylum, where he died from a heart attack in 1877. His paintings were primarily Romantic landscapes.