Ferreira, Antonio (1528–1569)

Portuguese poet. He wrote numerous striking sonnets, elegies, and odes, but is best known for his epistles. In his drama Ines de Castro he worked the most poignant and popular events of Portuguese chronicles into the form of Greek tragedy. He also wrote two comedies, Bristo and Cioso. He was known as ‘the Portuguese Horace’ for introducing a classical style into Portuguese poetry and drama.

Ferreira was born in Lisbon. He was judge of the supreme court in Lisbon and composed poetry in his spare time.