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| | | KING JOSÉ I COACH | | | | | | |  | | 18th Century (2nd half)
Ceremonial vehicle.
Portuguese work.
(Inv. nº 22)
Dim. 642 x 225 x 298 cm
Built for King José I, exalting the strength of Royal Power, portrayed by an eagle.
The lively symbiosis of the styles of Kings Louis XIV and Louis XV highlight the decoration in an interpretation of Portuguese characteristics.
The gilt and red carved woodwork is very rich in decoration and movement. Below this there is a mixture of masks, volutes, Atlases, chains of flowers and fruit, winged spirits and human heads with features notably like American Indians, clearly recalling the Portuguese contact with other parts of the world.
The work is by the sculptors José de Almeida and Félix Vicente de Almeida.
On the upper rear panel is a painting attributed to Cirílo Volkmar Machado (1748-1823), a Portuguese painter who studied in Rome and was selected as painter of the Royal Prince.
The interior has red velvet and the Portuguese royal coat of arms on the ceiling. | | |  | |
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