Tuesday, 9 August 2016

The National Palace of Mafra - The Basilica - The 7th of August 2016


It was particularly hot as I walked out of the Palace so I soon walked into the Basilica where I sat through a mess that was being carried out. The religious songs and the organ filled in the air ... and there were times in which I looked up at the dome and lost myself in circles of thoughts after thoughts as if I couldn't stop them from swirling around ...
 
 
It was the 10th anniversary of Faye's death ... and I felt a bit lost ... extremely sad. My  feelings against  the God all Mercy surfaced unexpectedly and I couldn't help but hold him responsible for having taken her ... even if it was for some brief moments ...
 
 
When I managed to get up I took to photographing the carrara marble statues, the chapels the organs ... the light coming through the dome ... everything ... as if mechanically pushed ... 













































































 

The National Palace of Mafra - The South Wing - King Pedro V Room; the Music Room; The Games Room; the Hunting Room; the Antechamber of the Library and the Library - The 7th of August 2016


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On one of the walls of what used to be known as the Waiting Room one could see an equestrian portrait depicting the King.

















The Music Room  also known as the Reception Room is where the Royal family used to receive their guests.

















The Games Room is believed to have been where the Royal family spent most of their past times playing cards, spinning tops an billiards among other games.

















The Hunting room mostly decorated with hunting trophies on its walls was quite interesting particularly because the 19th century furniture also made extensive use of deerskin and antlers.












Along the corridor towards the Library Antechamber I came across a Modern Art temporary exhibition, of which I took two photos (details of two paintings).


















Mouvances de la Mémoire - 1984 oil on canvas by Cargaleiro (left). Self-portrait crucified - 19956 oil on wood by Albuquerque Mendes (right).

Just outside the Library a rather interesting  oil on wood painting caught my attention - Brother Martinho of Santa Maria or of Arrábida  by an unknown 18th century artist.








The Library which occupies the noblest of all the Palace's building was simply mesmerising . Its floor paved with limestone of different colours, with a dome in the centre supported by four arches and crowned with a marble stone on which a human face is carved to represent the sun.
The Library is said to have close to 30,000 volumes on its rococo shelves ranging from the 15th to the 19th centuries, covering topics as diverse as Civil Law, History, Geography, Medicine etc. Noteworthy among them are rare works such as a collection of incunabula including Cicero's Orationes and the Homeri Opera Omnia, but also a collection of Bibles and manuscripts and 750 prohibited works under the Churc order.


























I was really impressed and though we only had access to a few important works on display in glass show tables as I made my way out I was wondering how long it must have taken to have it thoroughly organised, once it started in 1809 using a system which is still in use today.






The National Palace of Mafra - The Destinies Room; the Guards' Room; the Benediction Room; the Chamberlain's Room and the Queen's private apartments in the South Tower -The 7th of August 2016


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I then walked into a 232 metre long Façade Gallery made up of a long series of Promenade Rooms running between the two Palace turrets. Some noteworthy paintings and artefacts caught my attention as I wandered along them, such as the painting on the ceiling of the Portuguese Discoveries Room (whose photo didn't come out properly), the one decorating the Destinies Room with the Divine Providence delivering the Book of Portugal's destiny to the first Portuguese King, the Fall of Phaëthon on the ceiling of the Guards' Room and the variety of limestone decorations in the Benediction Room, on whose centre stands the marble bust of King João V.
 





































As I walked into the Chamberlains' Room it was again the painting on the ceiling that caught my attention - the five coats of arms of Portugal in the centre surrounded by several Greek Gods and the Goddess of Fertility. 




















The Queen's Royal chambers which I walked into afterwards comprised an Antechamber, a Boudoir, a toilet Room, a Bedroom and an Oratory. This time it was the bathroom decoration that drew my attention.

















(To be continued)