National Palace of Sintra acquires new pieces illustrating little-known episodes from its history

The stories of the kings and queens who lived in the National Palace of Sintra are the best-known aspect of its history. Yet, over nearly a thousand years, the Palace has also witnessed other, lesser-known but equally significant events that deserve to be shared with visitors — such as the reception of the first Japanese embassy to Portugal, held there in 1584, or aspects of the religious practices that guided the education of the ladies of the court. To bring these narratives to the public, Parques de Sintra has acquired three new pieces, which will be presented this Wednesday, 12 November, at 6 p.m., in the Magpie Room, with contributions from invited specialists.

The meeting between Portugal and Japan in a rare piece

The permanent exhibition of the National Palace of Sintra will now include a rare Namban reliquary cross — only eight examples of which are known worldwide — dating from the late 16th century and produced in Japan for Christian use. This piece forms a direct material link to one of the most remarkable diplomatic episodes in the monument’s history, as it dates from the time of the Tenshō Embassy, the first Japanese mission to Portugal, which was received here by the Viceroy Albert of Austria in 1584.

The reliquary cross bears witness to the circulation of European religious symbols reinterpreted through local techniques and aesthetics (such as urushi and vegetal decoration), symbolising the intercultural dialogue that the embassy sought to establish. Its acquisition gives visibility to a global historical moment in which the National Palace of Sintra played a central role; a place of encounter between Portugal and the world.

The piece will be presented by Alexandra Curvelo, Director of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at NOVA University Lisbon.

A model of virtue for the young ladies of the court

At the end of the Middle Ages, the Palace of Sintra was the centre of a territory governed by the Queens of Portugal, where many ladies of the court were educated in the ideals of Christian virtue, following the examples of Saint Anne and her daughter, the Virgin Mary. From now on, the National Palace of Sintra will include in its collection a Portuguese sculpture of the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne or Saint Anne Trinitarian, carved in Ançã limestone in the 15th/16th century. This work illustrates Marian devotion and the religious practices within the royal residence, enriching the spiritual dimension of the court’s daily life. The depiction of Our Lady crowned and holding the Child Jesus represents a central devotion for the Portuguese monarchy, and similar images would have been found in several of the Palace’s prayer and contemplation spaces.

By incorporating this sculpture of outstanding artistic quality into the Palace’s exhibition circuit, visitors gain a more authentic understanding of the material and devotional culture of the royal and noble households that inhabited Sintra in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The historical and artistic context of this piece will be presented by Maria João Vilhena, Curator at the National Museum of Ancient Art.

French luxury in service of Queen Maria Pia

Queen Maria Pia was the last monarch to reside in the National Palace of Sintra, and her memory remains vivid to this day. To further enhance the permanent exhibition of the Queen’s chambers and offer visitors a deeper insight into her taste, Parques de Sintra has acquired a writing desk cover that once belonged to her.

Crafted in green-dyed leather, adorned with embossed silver appliqués and the Queen’s monogram topped with the royal crown, this 19th/20th-century French luxury object exemplifies the type of items Queen Maria Pia used in her daily life.

The presentation of the monogrammed desk cover will be given by Teresa Maranhas, Curator at the National Palace of Ajuda.

New pieces enhance the visitor experience

João Sousa Rego, Chair of the Board of Directors of Parques de Sintra, highlights the importance of these new acquisitions within the company’s strategic vision: ‘One of the guiding principles of our work is to enhance the visitor experience and to value our heritage authentically, namely through the incorporation of new pieces into the collections of our monuments.’

Regarding the National Palace of Sintra, João Sousa Rego emphasises: ‘These three acquisitions, representing an investment of around one hundred thousand euros, clearly illustrate the variety of episodes and experiences that characterise this monument, which has stood through the entirety of Portugal’s history. Our mission is to share this diversity with visitors, offering them a deeper understanding of the events that shaped the identity of this Palace. Our acquisition policy is therefore guided by criteria of historical, cultural, and artistic relevance that enrich the museum narrative.’