Grape harvesting and wine-making
This large oil painting, signed “J V Salgado” and dated 1903, by Portuguese artist José Maria Veloso Salgado (1864–1945), displayed in the Court Room (Sala do Tribunal) of Palácio da Bolsa in Porto, Portugal, depicts grape harvesting and the early stages of wine-making, representing Agriculture.
The painting has been identified as Vindimas no Alto Douro (Grape Harvesting in the Upper Douro).
As seen in the image, a woman empties a basket of freshly harvested grapes into a large wooden vat, assisted by a man standing beside her. In the foreground, another woman sits on a large wicker basket, holding a bunch of dark grapes in one hand while examining or tasting a single grape with the other, perhaps checking its ripeness. In the background, a worker carries a large basket on their back, while other agricultural workers can be seen in the distant landscape.
The painting illustrates the importance of viticulture and wine-making to the economy of Porto and the surrounding Douro Valley, a region renowned for its port wine production and international trade.
This painting represents Agriculture, a part of a larger decorative program in the Court Room, which includes paintings depicting Justice, Industry, Maritime Commerce.
The allegorical painting on the ceiling – The Law Protecting Industry, Commerce and Agriculture provides the overarching theme for this decorative program.
References:
1. Veloso Salgado: estudo e intervenção de conservação e restauro do espólio doado ao MNAC-MC. Academic study on the artist and his works.
https://comum.rcaap.pt/bitstreams/48c90e55-0de9-420a-aa73-7e4b5fa8b023/download
2. Palácio da Bolsa: tópicos para uma visita II. Historical study discussing the decorative paintings of Palácio da Bolsa and Veloso Salgado’s contributions.
Related Posts and Pages from YatrikaOne
Palácio da Bolsa Blog
– Palácio da Bolsa: A Stock Exchange Built Like a Palace
Court Room Pages
– Palácio da Bolsa: The Court Room (Sala do Tribunal)
– Palácio da Bolsa Court Room: The Law Protecting Industry, Commerce and Agriculture by Veloso Salgado
– Palácio da Bolsa Court Room: Industry Depicted by José Veloso Salgado
– Palácio da Bolsa Court Room: Bustling Quayside by Veloso Salgado
– Palácio da Bolsa Court Room: Grape Harvesting in the Upper Douro by Veloso Salgado
– Palácio da Bolsa Court Room: A Session in the Court by José Veloso Salgado
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