Palácio de Monserrate The estate of Monserrate was rented by Gerard de Visme (1789), a wealthy English merchant holding the concession to import Brazilian teak, who built a house there in the neo-Gothic style. William Beckford (1760-1844), writer, novelist, art critic and eccentric builder and known as the wealthiest young Englishman of his time, then subleased Monserrate in 1793-1794, but, in 1809, when Lord Byron visited the property, the house was already in ruins. The estate’s sublime appearance was a source of inspiration for the poet in his poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage One of the most famous visitors was Francis Cook, another extremely wealthy English industrialist, who was later decorated by King Luís with the title of Viscount of Monserrate and subrogated the estate in 1856. The effective acquisition of the property took place in 1863, with the architect James Knowles beginning the work of transforming what remained of the house built by de Visme. Knowles’ work distinctly displays medieval and blends of Portugese, Arabian and Indian architectural styles.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 18:03:33 +0000
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