Portugal buys portrait of D. Amélia for Palácio da Ajuda
The Museu do Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, in Lisbon, will export, for the first time, on the Night of the Museums, on May 14, a painting by Karl Stieler, acquired by the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC), and a set of crystal, recently acquired by the institution.
The canvas by Joseph Karl Stieler (1781-1858) is a portrait of D. Amélia de Leuchtenberg (1812-1873), the second wife of Pedro IV of Portugal, who was also the first emperor of Brazil.
The portrait, explains the Ajuda National Palace, was acquired by DGPC from a private collector in Munich. The painting dates from 1829, the painter is known, among other works, for being the author of the only portrait made in his lifetime of the composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), and “as a portraitist of the Bavarian royal family and the famous gallery of beauties” of Louis’ reign, between 1825 and 1848, at Nymphenburg Palace in Munich.
“This portrait fills in the output of two portraits of D. Pedro IV and D. Amélia existing in this palace, at the time of the monarchy, and which were removed for other public services”, the museum tells the Lusa agency. This portrait will also be a unique portrait of Karl Stieler present in Portuguese public collections.
The other new piece in the Ajuda National Palace’s collection is a crystal set that belongs to Maria Pia de Sabóia (1847-1901), wife of King D. Luís, and which was donated by a patron. The service of 157 pieces was acquired in March at an auctioneer, through a private person.
“This is a luxurious set in crystal, decorated with geometric and stylized plant elements, engraved and enriched with the Queen’s monogram, topped by a royal engraved and gilded crown”, explains the Ajuda National Palace to Lusa. The trace of this set had been lost since the establishment of the Republic, in 1910, and will be exposed to the public, for the first time, on the dining room table of the Palace, from May 14th.