Os bens de Vataça: visibilidade de uma existência

Abstract

Based on the inventory of the personal estate of Dona Vataça — the descendant of Byzantine emperors and maid of Queen Dona Isabel of Aragon —, an attempt is made to know the domestic ambience that surrounded its possessor and to unveil some aspects of her life. In the big room, which is still in fact an extension of the public sphere into the palace, the visible presence of cloths, tapestries and pillows is a clear sign of luxury and comfort, while table cloths and silverware would adorn the table at banquets and chess games would fill the leisure moments of a society that transfers its warlike ideals to the very inside of the home. In the bedroom, and keept in a chest, garments, jewels, books and religious objects remind us of both her wealth and her devotion. Luxury pervades everything, and manifests itself in such objects as jewels and precious stones, a rich library including about twenty volumes, of both profane and religious character, and also shrines and crosses — which in turn are proof to a devotion of franciscan inspiration as well as a deep relationship with the saints. In short, all the items of her personal property, with their multiple shapes, colours, and patterns, are in themselves the outward marks and symbols of the life of a «domina», a woman, and a believer — Vataça. The present work comprises also a transcription of the source, a Table containing the quantification and description of the items, and a Glossary.