Máximo Paulino dos Reis (1781-1866), attrib.

Quill drawing with ink wash, c. 1821

Inv. 1438

This is a preparatory drawing for the central panel of the ceiling in the Empire Room at Belém Palace, which is attributed to one of the ‘history painters’ from the Ajuda school, Máximo Paulino dos Reis, a pupil of José da Cunha Taborda, who studied at the Royal Academy of Painting in Rome from 1802 to 1811. Set down with a degree of erudite pretension, the drawing features a caption on the reverse side that helps to cast light on the subject: on the upper part, the goddess Minerva reveals ‘to the world the man who had brought an end to the misfortunes that had plagued it so’. That man is King João VI, who is depicted in a medallion crowned by cherubs and illuminated by Jupiter’s thunderbolt. On the lower left of the drawing are two virtues – Fidelity holding a key and Piety with her cornucopia, letting earthly food fall – while the caption explains that ‘the merit of the Nation that conquers crime and triumphs over it’ are shown on the right in a clear allusion to the Napoleonic invasions. As well as being of lower artistic quality than the drawing, the final painting differs in several aspects, including the position of some of the figures and the attributes held by the children. Documentary sources indicate that the artist produced at least two ceilings in the palace from 1821 to 1822, helping to date the drawing.