Portrait of Catherine of Braganza
Author: Unknown (original by Peter Lely)
Origin: Unknown
Dating: 19th century (?)
Material: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions (cm): 148 x 123
Inv. no.: PD0418
Catarina Henriqueta de Bragança (1638-1705) – daughter of King João IV – besides being Infanta of Portugal, was also Queen of England. At a time when the marriages of Princesses were seen as International Treaties, Catherine became a Diplomatic trump card after the Restoration of Independence of Portugal in 1640.
At the time of her marriage to Charles II of England (1662), she supposedly took, not only, the social habit of drinking tea to England, but also added porcelain to the English customs; the fork at the table of the Court; the taste for Italian music (i.e. Opera); the invention of the famous English quince jam; the changing of the Chinese name mandarina into “tangerine”, as well as the popularization of fans and tobacco.
Besides having helped to revolutionize the British customs in the 17th century, it is also relevant to mention the dowry offered to Charles II – two million cruzados in cash, Tangiers in the North of Africa, the city of Mumbai in India and commercial benefits in the Portuguese ports from Brazil to South East Asia. Therefore, it may be said that this Anglo-Portuguese marriage was one of the reason that lead England into decisive steps in becoming a Global Empire.
After the death of Charles II (1685), Queen Catherine remained in England, returning to her homeland only in 1692/93 – when she ordered the construction of the Palace of Bemposta. Until her death (1705), in Lisboa, she was involved in the affairs of the Kingdom, having assumed the regency twice.
She was buried in the Jerónimos Monastery, however, her remains were later transferred to the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora.
