Queen Maria I Room
This room is characterised by the decorative harmony achieved by the combination of polychrome square tiles with chinoiserie and ornamental painting in the delicate neoclassical style, prominent during the reign of Queen Maria I (1777-1816), the ceiling featuring urns, trophies and garlands around a central composition with a mythological theme, from which hangs an impressive crystal and gilded bronze bag chandelier. The furniture on display here echoes the same decorative grammar, with highlights including a side table made by José Aniceto Raposo, using highly refined techniques of veneers and inlays, and a desk with a raised back with glazed doors, both pieces of English influence. The armchairs follow the model of French Louis XVI chairs, clearly showing the dichotomy of the foreign influence in Portuguese furniture in the second half of the 18th century. Intensifying the light and depth of the space are the mirrors of three pier tables, pieces of furniture made to impress, with great decorative presence, one of which is profusely carved.
Highlights among the paintings decorating the walls are two gouaches by Alexandre-Jean Nöel, a French artist who worked in Portugal, where he left various landscapes and seascapes. They depict two sweeping but detailed views of the east and west sides of Lisbon, from the viewpoint of the south bank of the Tagus River.