Residence in Braga, Portugal
The
Residence of Biscainhos
(
Portuguese
:
Casa dos Biscainhos/Museu dos Biscainhos
), is a former-signeurial residence located in
civil parish
of
Braga (Maximinos, Se e Cividade)
, in the
municipality
of
Braga
, in
northern
Portuguese
district of Braga
.
History
[
edit
]
In 1665, Maria da Silva e Sousa married Dr. Constantino Ribeiro do Lago (1619-1686), who was one of the most important civil personalities in Braga. He was a Knight in the Order of Christ, alcalde of
Ervededo
, Overseer and Judge of Braga, Chancellor of Relacao, attorney-general of Mitra, represented the city in the 1667 Cortes in Lisbon.
[1]
Lago ordered the construction of a residence, that was likely constructed by Basque artisans from the province of Biscay, then working in the cathedral of Braga, resulting in its name,
Biscainhos
.
[1]
The work was concluded in 1699 by his son, Diogo de Sousa da Silva, who was also a knight in the Order of Christ.
In the 18th century, over three generations, the residence was passed-on through the matrilineal descendant of the family.
[1]
On 26 November 1712, Francisco Pereira da Silva (who was the Dean of the Cathedral of Braga) signed a contract with mason Manuel Fernandes da Silva, to expand the residence along
Rua dos Biscainhos
, the second executed to that effect.
[1]
In the course of this work, a ceiling painting in the main hall was executed by painter Manuel Furtado de Mendonca (in 1724), and later, azulejo tile, which came from fabricators in Coimbra.
[1]
In the intervening years it passed-into the possession of various illustrious owners.
[1]
Antonio Pereira Pinto de Eca, was administrator of the second founding of Bertiandos. Joao Pereira Forjaz Coutinho, was the son of the
Secretario dos Negocios Estrangeiros, da Guerra e da Marinha
(
Secretary for International Affairs, War and the Army
). Damiao Pereira da Silva de Sousa e Menezes (1764-1835) was administrator of the first founding of Bertiandos.
[1]
Goncalo Pereira da Silva de Sousa e Menezes (1797-1856), Count of Bertiandos, member of the council of Queen D.
Maria II
, Peer of the Kingdom, Civil Governor of Braga and attorney of the 1928 Cortes.
[1]
His daughter, Joana Maria do Rosario Francisca Sales Pereira da Silva de Sousa e Menezes (1818-1874), second Countess of Bertiandos, lading-in-waiting of Queens D. Estefania and D. Maria.
[1]
Her nephew, Gaspar Lobo Machado do Amaral Cardoso de Menezes, 3rd Viscount of Paco de Nespereira was the last member of the family to be owner of the Residence of Biscainhos.
[1]
The dominant period of its history occurred in the 18th century, resulting in exquisite Baroque interiors that included
azulejos
, ceilings with beautiful relief stucco work and paintings of the period. It was also framed by the magnificent
gardens
.
[1]
In 1963, the building was acquired by the District Junta from the
Viscount of Paco de Nespereira
, in order to install a museum, with work initiated under the responsibility of Alberto da Silva Bessa.
[1]
On 11 February 1978, the Museum of the Biscainhos was opened to the public. Due to the financial incapacity of the district junta, by decree 133/87 (18 March) the building was placed into the management of the IPPAR
Instituto Portugues do Patrimonio Cultural
(
Portuguese Institute of Cultural Patrimony
).
[1]
During this time, the exterior facades were repaired and the paintings in the halls were repaired.
[1]
But, on 9 August 1991, it was succeeded by its transfer into the management of the
Instituto Portugues de Museus
(
Portuguese Institute of Museums
), in decree 278/91 (Diario da Republica, Serie-1A), and later (29 March 2007), to the
Instituto dos Museus e Conservacao, I.P.
(
Institute of Museums and Conservation
) by decree 97/2007 (Diario da Republica, Serie 1, 63).
[1]
Architecture
[
edit
]
The building is located in an isolated context, situated outside the walls of the ancient city, in an area that was formerly rural, but absorbed into the city of Braga overtime, today inserted in what is considered the historic centre, addorsed to other constructions.
[1]
The large entranceway was structured in a way to permit carriages, and other vehicles, to enter by way of a covered patio, that served simultaneously as principal entrance and passage to the stables and gardens.
[1]
The space is covered in grooved, non-slip, granite slabs and arch-shaped entrances with granite pilasters.
[1]
In each of these pilasters there are small statues of a page or knight in costume from the 18th century.
[1]
The first floor of the main body of the house includes seven rooms. The
azulejo
hall is of particular interest: it is a large space, about 13 metres (43 ft) long, covered in azulejo tile, with its ceiling covered in painted wood, representing the history of the illustrious, and much venerated,
Bracarense
Beato Miguel de Carvalho.
[1]
Next to this a smaller room, painted with mythological motifs, but from a later period.
[1]
The set of rooms arranged along the garden, especially the dining room, is furnished and decorated with pieces dating from the beginning of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th.
[1]
The romanticised scenes, painted on canvas, evoke themes about ruins and fantastical stories.
[1]
Garden
[
edit
]
About a hectare in the rear of the house was surrounded by walls and divided into landscaped terraces.
[1]
On the opposite wall is a polygonal structure of buttresses which, together with its crowning of battlements and sentries located at the angles, gives it an aspect of a 16th-century fortress.
[1]
Inside the bulwark's simulacrum is a small temple with dome and lantern, that contains sepulchral slabs dedicated to the former-gentry the masters of the house.
[1]
The estate is divided into three terraces, rising slightly from the house to the west, separated by walls crowned with tile planting boxes.
[1]
The terraces are supported by decorative granite columns that are arranged along the walls and terraces of the estate.
[1]
Of these terraces, the lower two were cultivated with vegetables and orchard, divided into blocks flanked by boxwood stools. The upper terrace is occupied by the garden itself and by a terrarium that separates it from the house.
[1]
It occupies a rectangular terrace surrounded by a wall with tiled floor, decorated pyramids, urns and statuary statues, over the access gates, on the side viewpoints and at the angles, together with the raised beds.
[1]
Inside the flower beds, are five bowls with water springs, similar to those introduced by Muslims during the 8th century, in the Rocaille style.
[1]
Among the species in the garden are stands of
tulip poplar
(
Liriodendron tulipifera
) that were contemporary to the initial plantation.
[1]
The Museum
[
edit
]
The museum exhibits, on a permanent basis, collections of
decorative arts
, integrated into the structure of the 18th century northern
manorhouse
. Its collection includes
furniture
,
ceramics
, European and Oriental
porcelain
,
glassware
, and examples of European and Portuguese watches and clocks.
References
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
Sources
[
edit
]
- Araujo, Ilidio (1962),
Arte Paisagistica e Arte dos Jardins em Portugal
(in Portuguese), vol. I, Lisbon, Portugal
{{
citation
}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link
)
- Gil, Julio (1992),
Os mais belos palacios de Portugal, Edicoes Verbo
(in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal, pp. 30?35
{{
citation
}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link
)
- Stoop, Anne de (1993),
Palacios e Casas Senhoriais do Minho
(in Portuguese), Porto, Portugal
{{
citation
}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link
)
- Oliveira, Eduardo Pires de (1994),
O edificio do Convento do Salvador-De mosteiro de freiras ao Lar Conde de Agrolongo
(in Portuguese), Braga, Portugal
{{
citation
}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link
)
- Aires-Barros, Luis (1 April 2001),
As Rochas dos Monumentos Portugueses: tipologias e patologias
(in Portuguese), vol. II, Lisbon, Portugal
{{
citation
}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link
)
- Reis, Vitor Manuel (2006),
Guerra dos-O Rapto do Observador: invencao, representacao e percepcao do espaco celestial na pintura de tectos em Portugal no seculo XVIII
(in Portuguese), vol. 2, Lisbon, Portugal: Doctoral Dissertation, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lisbon