Discoveries of the first cardinal-patriarch of Lisbon

Cwe can identify two carved and gilded wooden sticks, which are preserved among the collections of the National Palace of Mafra, as those used during the consecration ceremonies of the Basilica of Our Lady and Saint Anthony of Mafra in October 1730, says the researcher at the Institute of Art History of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lisbon, both about 300 years old.

"Both appear to us, from their formal and decorative aspects, consistent with the production of time and present characteristics that reinforce our conviction: the lightness of one of them (thus achieving the desired goal), which the papal tiara with the palm leaves and the oak branch, allusive to the patriarchal Lisbon, "says Teresa Leonor Vale.

The identification of the sticks came from a "handwritten source", contemporary of the dedication ceremony, "trustworthy and little discussed", "kept at the library of aid", in Lisbon.

The researcher, specialist in museology and conservation of works of art, pointed out that one of the staves "presents at the bottom the iron element to which the aforementioned manuscript refers with respect to its use to mark sidewalks during ceremonies ".

The choice of a material of considerable importance for the function and dignity of the prelate was due to a practical aspect: "The great temporal extension of the ceremony thus determined that the sticks used by the cardinal-patriarch were made of wood, to be lighter. "

"With these sticks, we believe that Thomas was beaten by Almeida at the door of the basilica for it to open and that the dedication ceremony begins, and with his end he made on the sidewalk of the basilica marks due to a particular stage of the ceremonial complex, "says Teresa Leonor Vale.

The research group led by Teresa Leonor Vale is planning to modify the manuscript of the library of aid, which served as justification for the identification of the stands used at the official opening ceremony of the basilica of Mafra and the Venerable Brotherhood of the Blessed Sacrament of Mafra. told Lusa that he will finance the restoration of "two strange pieces in their historical and chronological context".

Teresa Leonor Vale has developed the research project "Tumulária Portuguesa do Maneirismo e do Barroco" between 2004 and 2007, and between 2007 and 2013, another entitled "Urea e Escultores". import process ", both funded by Postdoctoral Fellowships from the Foundation for Science and Technology.

The researcher is the author of several books and articles in the field of history and history of art published in Portugal and abroad.