Paço de São Cristóvão
Encyclopedia
Paço de São Cristóvão is a palace
located in the Quinta da Boa Vista
park in Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
. It is the former residence of the Emperors of Brazil. It currently houses the National Museum of Brazil
.
In the early 19th century, the area known as Quinta da Boa Vista belonged to Elias António Lopes, a rich Portuguese merchant
, who in 1803 built a manor house
on top of a hill. When the Portuguese court was transferred to Brazil
, in 1808, Elias António Lopes donated his farm to the Prince Regent
John VI
. John VI appreciated the gift and stayed for long periods in the manor house.
The Portuguese Royal Family
had been living in the Paço Imperial
since their arrival in Rio de Janeiro in 1808. To better accommodate the royal family
, in 1819 John VI had the manor house of the Quinta da Boa Vista renovated, transforming it into a royal palace
. The renovation was directed by English architect
John Johnston and was completed in 1821. In front of the palace, Johnston installed a decorative portico
, a gift sent from England
to Brazil by Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland
.
After the declaration of Independence of Brazil
, in 1822, the Palace became the residence of Emperor Pedro I. The remodelling and expansion of the Palace continued under Portuguese architect Manuel da Costa (1822–1826), followed by French
architect Pedro José Pezerát (1826–1831), credited as the author of the definitive Neoclassical
project of the building. He added a new tower to the left of the main façade and added a third floor to the Palace. The works were continued after 1847 by Brazilian artist Manuel de Araújo Porto-alegre
, who harmonised the style of the façades, followed by the German
Theodore Marx (1857–1868). Italian
painter Mario Bragaldi decorated many of the rooms of the Palace, including the Throne Room and the Ambassadors' Room, with paintings in trompe d'oiel.
After the marriage of Pedro I and Princess Maria Leopoldina of Austria
, in 1817, the Imperial couple resided in the Palace. Here were born the future Queen of Portugal, Maria II, as well as the future Emperor of Brazil Pedro II
. Empress Maria Leopoldina died in the Palace in 1826.
Pedro II, future Emperor, grew up and was educated in the Palace, and in 1869 ordered the remodelling of the gardens. French garden designer Auguste François Marie Glaziou
was put in charge of the project, which included artificial lakes, bridges, caves and fake ancient temples, all following the Romantic
trend of the time. Pedro II's children were also born in the Palace, including Princess Isabel
, famous for having abolished slavery
from Brazil in 1888.
After the Proclamation of the Republic in 1889, the Imperial family left the country and the Palace and its surrounding gardens became empty.
In 1891, the building was used by Brazilian politicians writing the first Republican Constitution of the country.
In 1892, the director of the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro managed to transfer the institution from the Campo de Santana to the Palace. The inner decoration of the Palace was dispersed, but part of it can still be found in other museums, like the Imperial Museum of Petrópolis
, in which the Throne Room was reassembled.
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
located in the Quinta da Boa Vista
Quinta da Boa Vista
The Quinta da Boa Vista is a public park of great historical importance in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The park was part of the gardens of the São Cristóvão Palace, the residence of the Emperors of Brazil in the 19th century....
park in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. It is the former residence of the Emperors of Brazil. It currently houses the National Museum of Brazil
National Museum of Brazil
The National Museum of Brazil is a centenarian museum and research institution, located in the Quinta da Boa Vista park in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.-History:...
.
History
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
, who in 1803 built a manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
on top of a hill. When the Portuguese court was transferred to Brazil
Transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil
The Transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil was an episode in the history of Portugal and the history of Brazil in which the Portuguese royal family and its court escaped from Lisbon on November 29, 1807 to Brazil, just days before Napoleonic forces captured the city on December 1...
, in 1808, Elias António Lopes donated his farm to the Prince Regent
Prince Regent
A prince regent is a prince who rules a monarchy as regent instead of a monarch, e.g., due to the Sovereign's incapacity or absence ....
John VI
John VI of Portugal
John VI John VI John VI (full name: João Maria José Francisco Xavier de Paula Luís António Domingos Rafael; (13 May 1767 – 10 March 1826) was King of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves (later changed to just King of Portugal and the Algarves, after Brazil was recognized...
. John VI appreciated the gift and stayed for long periods in the manor house.
The Portuguese Royal Family
House of Braganza
The Most Serene House of Braganza , an important Portuguese noble family, ruled the Kingdom of Portugal and its colonial Empire, from 1640 to 1910...
had been living in the Paço Imperial
Paço Imperial
The Paço Imperial , or Imperial Palace, is a historic building in the center of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Paço Imperial was built in the 18th century to serve as residence for the governors of colonial Brazil. From 1808, it was used as a royal residence by King John VI of Portugal as...
since their arrival in Rio de Janeiro in 1808. To better accommodate the royal family
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
, in 1819 John VI had the manor house of the Quinta da Boa Vista renovated, transforming it into a royal palace
Royal Palace
** Palace of Nakhchivan Khans, Nakhchivan* Belgium: Royal Palace of Brussels* Brazil** Paço Imperial** Paço de São Cristóvão** Summer Palace* Bulgaria: Royal Palace, today housing the National Art Gallery* Cambodia: Royal Palace of Cambodia* China...
. The renovation was directed by English architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
John Johnston and was completed in 1821. In front of the palace, Johnston installed a decorative portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
, a gift sent from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to Brazil by Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland
Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland
Lieutenant-General Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland, FRS was an officer in the British army and later a British peer...
.
After the declaration of Independence of Brazil
Brazilian Declaration of Independence
The Brazilian Independence comprised a series of political events occurred in 1821–1823, most of which involved disputes between Brazil and Portugal regarding the call for independence presented by the Brazilian Kingdom...
, in 1822, the Palace became the residence of Emperor Pedro I. The remodelling and expansion of the Palace continued under Portuguese architect Manuel da Costa (1822–1826), followed by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
architect Pedro José Pezerát (1826–1831), credited as the author of the definitive Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
project of the building. He added a new tower to the left of the main façade and added a third floor to the Palace. The works were continued after 1847 by Brazilian artist Manuel de Araújo Porto-alegre
Manuel de Araújo Porto-alegre
Manuel José de Araújo Porto-alegre, Baron of Santo Ângelo was a Brazilian Romantic writer, painter, architect, diplomat and professor. He is patron of the 32nd chair of the Brazilian Academy of Letters.-Life:...
, who harmonised the style of the façades, followed by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Theodore Marx (1857–1868). Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
painter Mario Bragaldi decorated many of the rooms of the Palace, including the Throne Room and the Ambassadors' Room, with paintings in trompe d'oiel.
After the marriage of Pedro I and Princess Maria Leopoldina of Austria
Maria Leopoldina of Austria
Maria Leopoldina of Austria was an archduchess of Austria, Empress consort of Brazil and queen consort of Portugal....
, in 1817, the Imperial couple resided in the Palace. Here were born the future Queen of Portugal, Maria II, as well as the future Emperor of Brazil Pedro II
Pedro II of Brazil
Dom Pedro II , nicknamed "the Magnanimous", was the second and last ruler of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was the seventh child of Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil and Empress Dona Maria Leopoldina and thus a member of the Brazilian branch of...
. Empress Maria Leopoldina died in the Palace in 1826.
Pedro II, future Emperor, grew up and was educated in the Palace, and in 1869 ordered the remodelling of the gardens. French garden designer Auguste François Marie Glaziou
Auguste François Marie Glaziou
Auguste François Marie Glaziou was a French landscape designer and botanist who was born in Lannion, Brittany.As a student in Paris he earned a degree in civil engineering and took classes at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle...
was put in charge of the project, which included artificial lakes, bridges, caves and fake ancient temples, all following the Romantic
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
trend of the time. Pedro II's children were also born in the Palace, including Princess Isabel
Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil
Dona Isabel , nicknamed "the Redemptress", was the heiress presumptive to the throne of the Empire of Brazil, bearing the title of Princess Imperial....
, famous for having abolished slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
from Brazil in 1888.
After the Proclamation of the Republic in 1889, the Imperial family left the country and the Palace and its surrounding gardens became empty.
In 1891, the building was used by Brazilian politicians writing the first Republican Constitution of the country.
In 1892, the director of the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro managed to transfer the institution from the Campo de Santana to the Palace. The inner decoration of the Palace was dispersed, but part of it can still be found in other museums, like the Imperial Museum of Petrópolis
Petrópolis
Petrópolis , also known as The Imperial City of Brazil, is a town in the state of Rio de Janeiro, about 65 km from the city of Rio de Janeiro....
, in which the Throne Room was reassembled.
See also
- Paço ImperialPaço ImperialThe Paço Imperial , or Imperial Palace, is a historic building in the center of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Paço Imperial was built in the 18th century to serve as residence for the governors of colonial Brazil. From 1808, it was used as a royal residence by King John VI of Portugal as...
, the seat of the Imperial government - Quinta da Boa VistaQuinta da Boa VistaThe Quinta da Boa Vista is a public park of great historical importance in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The park was part of the gardens of the São Cristóvão Palace, the residence of the Emperors of Brazil in the 19th century....
- National Museum of BrazilNational Museum of BrazilThe National Museum of Brazil is a centenarian museum and research institution, located in the Quinta da Boa Vista park in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.-History:...
External links
- National Museum of Brazil Official website