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Jardim Botânico de Coimbra: contraponto entre a Arte e a ... - artez

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<strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>: <strong>contraponto</strong> <strong>entre</strong> a <strong>Arte</strong> e a Ciência<br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n: Counterpoint between Art and Science<br />

O <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong> nasce com a<br />

reforma pombalina da Universida<strong>de</strong>, constituindo<br />

um dos mais fiéis reflexos do espírito<br />

e objectivos que a impulsionaram. Com<br />

efeito, a renovação científica e pedagógica<br />

dos estudos, <strong>de</strong> acordo com as novas directrizes<br />

emanadas do movimento das Luzes<br />

e do experimentalismo, traduziu-se numa<br />

<strong>de</strong>cidida aposta nas faculda<strong>de</strong>s naturais,<br />

necessariamente apoiadas por estabelecimentos<br />

capazes <strong>de</strong> à teoria aliar a prática,<br />

introduzindo no processo <strong>de</strong> aprendizagem<br />

a observação e a <strong>de</strong>monstração 1 .<br />

É certo que o projecto <strong>de</strong> criação <strong>de</strong> uma<br />

tal valência na cida<strong>de</strong> não era novo pois,<br />

durante o longo reitorado <strong>de</strong> Francisco<br />

Carneiro <strong>de</strong> Figueiroa, Jacob <strong>de</strong> Castro Sarmento<br />

enviara àquele reitor, um plano, i<strong>de</strong>alizado<br />

pelo arquitecto E. Oakley, com data<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1731, para a realização <strong>de</strong> um jardim<br />

botânico. O projecto [1] apresentava semelhanças<br />

com o Chelsea Physic Gar<strong>de</strong>n <strong>de</strong><br />

Londres, o que se po<strong>de</strong>rá explicar, não só<br />

pelo facto <strong>de</strong> Jacob Sarmento ter estado<br />

em Inglaterra, on<strong>de</strong> foi membro do Real<br />

Colégio dos Médicos, como também pela<br />

familiarida<strong>de</strong> <strong>entre</strong> o arquitecto Oakley e o<br />

<strong>Jardim</strong> londrino, para o qual <strong>de</strong>senharia, por<br />

esta altura, o projecto das estufas.<br />

Esta proposta pioneira <strong>de</strong>nunciava já o<br />

intuito <strong>de</strong> articular a mo<strong>de</strong>rnização da ciência<br />

botânica com o <strong>de</strong>senvolvimento da<br />

medicina. Não passaria, contudo, do papel,<br />

sendo necessário aguardar pelo pragmatismo<br />

férreo da «nova fundação» para que<br />

a formulação concreta <strong>de</strong> um horto botânico<br />

no espaço da Universida<strong>de</strong> visse a luz<br />

do dia.<br />

Os novos Estatutos foram publicados em<br />

1772, na sequência do Compêndio histórico<br />

do estado da Universida<strong>de</strong>, apresen-<br />

JoAnA BriteS<br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n dates from the<br />

Pombaline reform of the University, and<br />

faithfully reflects the spirit and aims of<br />

those times. In<strong>de</strong>ed, it emerged out of the<br />

scientific and pedagogical changes that<br />

were introduced in or<strong>de</strong>r to bring the curriculum<br />

into line with the values of the<br />

Enlightenment and experimentalism; this<br />

led to investment in science faculties, supported<br />

by establishments that emphasized<br />

the practical component, introducing<br />

observation and <strong>de</strong>monstration into the<br />

learning process 1 .<br />

The i<strong>de</strong>a to create a botanical gar<strong>de</strong>n in the<br />

city was not in fact new. A plan for one [1],<br />

drawn up by the architect E.Oakley in 1731,<br />

had been sent to the rector of the University,<br />

Francisco Carneiro <strong>de</strong> Figueiroa, during<br />

his long period in office, by Jacob <strong>de</strong> Castro<br />

Sarmento. That first pioneering project,<br />

which aimed at forging links between a<br />

mo<strong>de</strong>rnized botanical science and medicine,<br />

bore some resemblance to the Chelsea<br />

Physic Gar<strong>de</strong>n in London, which is not surprising<br />

if we consi<strong>de</strong>r that Jacob Sarmento<br />

had spent some time in England, where he<br />

was a member of the Royal College of Physicians,<br />

and that Oakley in fact <strong>de</strong>signed the<br />

greenhouses for that gar<strong>de</strong>n at around the<br />

same time. However, it did not get further<br />

than the drawing board. It was necessary<br />

to await the iron pragmatism of the “new<br />

foundation” before any project could properly<br />

come to fruition.<br />

In 1772, the new Statutes were published,<br />

following the presentation, in 1771, to the<br />

king of the “Historical Compendium of the<br />

State of the University” by the Literary Provi<strong>de</strong>nce<br />

Committee (which had been charged<br />

in 1770 with analysing the causes of the<br />

University’s <strong>de</strong>cline and suggesting ways in<br />

31


tado ao rei em 1771, pela Junta <strong>de</strong> Providência<br />

Literária, encarregue em 1770 <strong>de</strong> analisar<br />

as causas da <strong>de</strong>cadência da Universida<strong>de</strong> e<br />

apontar os meios para a sua reestruturação.<br />

A par da profunda reformulação das faculda<strong>de</strong>s<br />

existentes – Teologia, Cânones, Leis e<br />

Medicina –, era extinta a das <strong>Arte</strong>s e criadas<br />

a <strong>de</strong> Matemática e a <strong>de</strong> Filosofia, ocupandose<br />

esta das Ciências da Natureza. Previa-se<br />

ainda a construção <strong>de</strong> diversos equipamentos:<br />

o hospital escolar, o teatro anatómico, o<br />

dispensatório farmacêutico (anexos à Faculda<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> Medicina); o observa tório astronómico<br />

(<strong>de</strong>pen<strong>de</strong>nte da Faculda<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> Matemática);<br />

e os gabinetes <strong>de</strong> História Natural<br />

e <strong>de</strong> Física Experimental, o Laboratório<br />

Químico e o <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> (agregados à<br />

Faculda<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> Filosofia).<br />

Com o propósito <strong>de</strong> complementar o Gabinete<br />

<strong>de</strong> História Natural, os Estatutos preconizavam<br />

a indispensabilida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> um jardim<br />

botânico, ditando, <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> logo, os objectivos<br />

a que este espaço <strong>de</strong>veria obe<strong>de</strong>cer:<br />

“Ainda que no Gabinete <strong>de</strong> Historia Natural<br />

se incluem as Producções do Reino Vegetal;<br />

como porém não po<strong>de</strong>m ver-se nelle as<br />

Plantas, senão nos seus Cadaveres, secos,<br />

macerados, e embalsamados; será necessario<br />

para complemento da mesma Historia o<br />

Estabelecimento <strong>de</strong> hum <strong>Jardim</strong> Botanico,<br />

no qual se mostrem as Plantas vivas. Pelo<br />

que: No lugar, que se achar mais proprio, e<br />

competente nas vizinhanças da Universida<strong>de</strong>,<br />

se establecerá logo o dito <strong>Jardim</strong>: Para<br />

que nelle se cultive todo o genero <strong>de</strong> Plantas;<br />

e particularmente aquellas, das quaes se<br />

conhecer, ou se esperar algum prestimo na<br />

Medicina, e nas outras <strong>Arte</strong>s; havendo o cuidado,<br />

e provi<strong>de</strong>ncia necessaria, para se ajuntarem<br />

as Plantas dos meus Dominios Ultramarinos,<br />

os quaes tem riquezas immensas,<br />

no que pertence ao Reino Vegetal.” 2<br />

No sentido <strong>de</strong> levar à prática os Estatutos<br />

<strong>de</strong>finidos, Sebastião José <strong>de</strong> Carvalho e<br />

Melo escreve uma carta, a 7 <strong>de</strong> Novembro<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1772, dirigida a D. Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos<br />

<strong>de</strong> Faria Pereira Coutinho, reitor da Uni-<br />

32<br />

which it could be restructured). With these,<br />

the existing faculties (Theology, Canon Law,<br />

Law and Medicine) were radically restructured,<br />

the Faculty of Arts was extinguished<br />

and new faculties of Mathematics and Philosophy<br />

were created, the last of which was<br />

to concern itself with the Natural Sciences.<br />

The construction of other facilities was also<br />

envisaged, including a teaching hospital,<br />

anatomical theatre, pharmaceutical dispensary<br />

(attached to the Faculty of Medicine),<br />

astronomical observatory (subordinated<br />

to the Faculty of Mathematics), and, within<br />

the Faculty of Philosophy, offices of Natural<br />

History and Experimental Physics, a Chemistry<br />

Laboratory and the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n.<br />

The Statutes emphasised the importance<br />

of the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n as a complement<br />

to the Natural History Office, and set forth<br />

its aims as follows: “Although the Office of<br />

Natural History contains examples from<br />

the vegetable kingdom, the plants inclu<strong>de</strong>d<br />

therein are no better than corpses, dried,<br />

macerated and embalmed. A Botanical<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n is thus a necessary complement to<br />

that History, in or<strong>de</strong>r to display living plants.<br />

Hence, such a gar<strong>de</strong>n shall be established<br />

in an appropriate place in the neighbourhood<br />

of the University, where all manner of<br />

plants shall be cultivated, particularly those<br />

that are known or hoped to offer some benefits<br />

to Medicine and other arts. Plants shall<br />

be collected there from my overseas territories,<br />

which are immensely rich as regards<br />

the vegetable kingdom.” 2<br />

The first step towards putting the Statutes<br />

into practice was taken by Sebastião<br />

José <strong>de</strong> Carvalho e Melo, the Marquis <strong>de</strong><br />

Pombal, in a letter dated 7th November<br />

1772 addressed to D. Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos <strong>de</strong><br />

Faria Pereira Coutinho, rector of the University<br />

and main executor of the reform. The<br />

letter was accompanied by a list of specifications,<br />

in which a section of the grounds<br />

of the St Bento College was indicated as the<br />

most suitable site for the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n.<br />

This opinion was corroborated by Domen-


versida<strong>de</strong> e principal executor da reforma,<br />

fazendo-a acompanhar <strong>de</strong> uma memória<br />

on<strong>de</strong> se indicava a porção <strong>de</strong> terreno da<br />

cerca <strong>de</strong> S. Bento como a mais a<strong>de</strong>quada<br />

para a instituição do «Horto <strong>Botânico</strong>», opinião<br />

corroborada por Domenico Van<strong>de</strong>lli,<br />

encarregado da direcção do novel <strong>Jardim</strong>,<br />

que então se encontrava na corte.<br />

A respeito da referida implantação acrescentava<br />

ainda que “o Abba<strong>de</strong> do Collegio<br />

<strong>de</strong> Saõ Bento, e todos os seus Fra<strong>de</strong>s;<br />

achando-se possuidos por hum terror<br />

pânico <strong>de</strong> que lhe hiam tomar parte do seu<br />

Collegio, e toda a sua cerca para se establecer<br />

o referido Horto: E querendo sacrificar<br />

huma parte para salvar o todo: Me viéram<br />

offerecer pelo seu Procurador Geral o Terreno,<br />

(…) o qual V. S.ª com os Professores da<br />

Faculda<strong>de</strong> po<strong>de</strong> hir ver; <strong>de</strong>marcar, e fazer<br />

murar, logo que se recolherem os Doutores<br />

Ciera, e Van<strong>de</strong>lli”. Rematava apelando<br />

ao uso pru<strong>de</strong>nte da referida oferta, a fim <strong>de</strong><br />

não se esten<strong>de</strong>r para além do indispensável<br />

o Horto que, dizia, em nenhuma parte ter<br />

visto ser “huma Quinta extensa” 3 .<br />

A 3 <strong>de</strong> Fevereiro <strong>de</strong> 1773, o reitor-reformador<br />

tranquilizava o ministro, noticiando-o<br />

<strong>de</strong> que “já se acham n’esta cida<strong>de</strong> os Doutores<br />

Ciera, Van<strong>de</strong>lli e Dalabella, e com<br />

elles e Franzini irei ámanhã ver o sítio que<br />

V.ª Ex.ª <strong>de</strong>signou para n’elle estabelecer-se o<br />

<strong>Jardim</strong> Botanico” 4 . Em resposta, o marquês<br />

<strong>de</strong> Pombal anunciava a vinda do tenentecoronel<br />

Guilherme Els<strong>de</strong>n, ensamblador ou<br />

marceneiro londrino, estabelecido em Portugal<br />

pelo menos <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> 1763, que executava<br />

serviços <strong>de</strong> engenharia e arquitectura.<br />

Era este inglês, igualmente responsável por<br />

outros edifícios da reforma pombalina, que<br />

o estadista encarregava <strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>linear o <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

“pelos apontamentos dos professores” 5 . Aos<br />

docentes cabia, na companhia <strong>de</strong> Francisco<br />

<strong>de</strong> Lemos, o reconhecimento do local.<br />

Cumprida com brevida<strong>de</strong> tal inspecção,<br />

verificou-se, porém, não ser o <strong>de</strong>stinado<br />

sítio o mais apropriado, dada a existência<br />

<strong>de</strong> acentuados <strong>de</strong>sníveis que implicariam<br />

ico Van<strong>de</strong>lli, who had been appointed curator<br />

of the new gar<strong>de</strong>n, and who was at that<br />

time at court.<br />

The letter went on: “The Abbot of the College<br />

of St Bento and all his friars, terrified of<br />

that their college and all its grounds would<br />

be taken over for the establishment of the<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n, and wanting to sacrifice a part to<br />

save the whole, offered me, through their<br />

legal representative, the terrain (…), which<br />

you and your Faculty professors may view,<br />

<strong>de</strong>marcate and enclose, as soon as Doctor<br />

Ciera and Doctor Van<strong>de</strong>lli return”. It conclu<strong>de</strong>d<br />

by urging that the offer be used pru<strong>de</strong>ntly,<br />

not going beyond what was strictly<br />

necessary, for nowhere should the Gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />

be perceived as “an extensive estate” 3 .<br />

On 3rd February 1773, the reformer rector<br />

informed the Marquis that “Doctors Ciera,<br />

Van<strong>de</strong>lli and Dalabella are now in the city,<br />

and they and Franzini shall go tomorrow<br />

to the site that Your Excellency has <strong>de</strong>signated<br />

for the establishment of the Botanical<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n” 4 . In his reply, the Marquis<br />

announced the arrival of Lieutenant Colonel<br />

William Els<strong>de</strong>n, a joiner or cabinetmaker<br />

from London, who had been based<br />

in Portugal since at least 1763, and who performed<br />

services in engineering and architecture.<br />

Els<strong>de</strong>n, who was also responsible<br />

for other buildings of the Pombaline reform,<br />

had been commissioned to <strong>de</strong>marcate the<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n “from the professors’ notes” 5 ; the<br />

professors, for their part, were to survey the<br />

site in the company of Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos.<br />

However, following the brief inspection, it<br />

was <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d that the site was not really suitable<br />

for the gar<strong>de</strong>n since it contained sharp<br />

differences in level, which would require<br />

“great expense in the creation of terraces<br />

one above the other and even so, would<br />

remain uneven”. The College gar<strong>de</strong>n, located<br />

in Alegria, near the so-called ‘Ínsua dos<br />

Bentos’, was consi<strong>de</strong>red as a second choice,<br />

but was also rejected as not viable “since it<br />

is very cramped, is exposed to flooding of<br />

the Mon<strong>de</strong>go, would also require extensive<br />

33


“fazer uma imensa <strong>de</strong>speza em sucalcos uns<br />

acima dos outros, e ainda <strong>de</strong>pois <strong>de</strong> tudo<br />

isto ficaria sempre irregular”. Pon<strong>de</strong>rada<br />

como segunda possibilida<strong>de</strong> a ocupação da<br />

horta do Colégio, situada na Alegria, junto<br />

à <strong>de</strong>nominada Ínsua dos Bentos, concluiuse<br />

não ser igualmente viável “por ser muito<br />

apertado, ficar exposto ás inundações do<br />

Mon<strong>de</strong>go, necessitar tambem <strong>de</strong> gran<strong>de</strong>s<br />

sucalcos, e ficar longe da Universida<strong>de</strong>”.<br />

Finalmente, uma solução reuniu consenso:<br />

“a parte da mesma cêrca [dos monges beneditinos]<br />

que confronta <strong>de</strong> uma parte os<br />

Arcos da cida<strong>de</strong>, da outra com a estrada que<br />

vae para S. José dos Mariannos, e da outra<br />

com huma vinha dos ditos P. es Mariannos”.<br />

As vantagens <strong>de</strong> tal escolha residiam na<br />

proximida<strong>de</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong> e dos Arcos,<br />

no fácil acesso a água através do Aqueduto<br />

do convento das freiras <strong>de</strong> Santa Ana e<br />

também na “circumstancia <strong>de</strong> ficar o <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

visinho a uma estrada, que indireitada e alinhada<br />

fórma hum bello e necessario passeio<br />

publico para recreação dos Estudantes” 6 .<br />

Num ofício <strong>de</strong> 2 <strong>de</strong> Março <strong>de</strong> 1773, acompanhado<br />

por uma provisão da mesma<br />

data, o marquês <strong>de</strong> Pombal elogiava o cuidado<br />

posto no exame do terreno <strong>de</strong>stinado<br />

ao dito estabelecimento, <strong>de</strong>terminando<br />

a compra do mesmo, bem como a sua<br />

<strong>de</strong>marcação. No espaço <strong>de</strong> meses, os professores<br />

italianos enviam para Lisboa uma<br />

sumptuosa planta para o <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong><br />

da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. Trata-se, presumivelmente,<br />

do <strong>de</strong>senho a tinta-da-china<br />

e aguada sobre papel [2] que se encontra<br />

na biblioteca do Departamento <strong>de</strong> Botânica,<br />

sem data ou assinatura <strong>de</strong>vido à falha<br />

que apresenta na sua parte central supe-<br />

34<br />

terracing and is a long way from the University”.<br />

Finally, a consensus was reached. It was<br />

<strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d to construct the gar<strong>de</strong>n in “that<br />

part of the same grounds [i.e. of the Benedictine<br />

college] that at one si<strong>de</strong> faces the<br />

city Aqueduct, at another faces the road<br />

that goes to S. José dos Mariannos, and<br />

at another a vineyard belonging to those<br />

Marian priests”. The advantages of this site<br />

lay in its proximity to the University and<br />

the Aqueduct, the easy access to water via<br />

the Aqueduct of the convent of Saint Anne,<br />

and also in the fact that "the Gar<strong>de</strong>n will be<br />

next to a road, forming a beautiful straight<br />

public promena<strong>de</strong> for the recreation of the<br />

Stu<strong>de</strong>nts” 6 .<br />

In an official letter of 2nd March 1773,<br />

accompanied by a writ of the same date, the<br />

Marquis praised the care taken in the examination<br />

of the land <strong>de</strong>stined for the Gar<strong>de</strong>n,<br />

and announced his <strong>de</strong>cision to purchase it<br />

and or<strong>de</strong>r its <strong>de</strong>marcation. Within months,<br />

the Italian professors had sent a sumptuous<br />

plant to Lisbon <strong>de</strong>stined for the Botanical<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n of the University of <strong>Coimbra</strong>.<br />

This is presumably what is represented in<br />

a Chinese ink and watercolour drawing on<br />

paper [2] in the Botany Department library,<br />

though unfortunately its date and signature<br />

are missing due to the fact that the part of<br />

the paper where this information would<br />

have been given, together with the key to<br />

the plan, is torn.<br />

The massive project for the Gar<strong>de</strong>n is<br />

remarkably similar to the undated “Sketch<br />

of the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n for the University<br />

of <strong>Coimbra</strong>” [3] by Júlio Mattiazzi, published<br />

together with the other “Sketches<br />

for Works on the University of <strong>Coimbra</strong>” in<br />

1983 by the Machado <strong>de</strong> Castro National<br />

Museum. This project was probably prepared<br />

after the other, since it is somewhat<br />

simplified in relation to it. It contains fewer<br />

flowerbeds, fountains and sculptures, and<br />

the arboretum is laid out differently, in the<br />

form of a square subdivi<strong>de</strong>d into four.


ior, on<strong>de</strong> se leriam essas informações, bem<br />

como as legendas do plano.<br />

O colossal projecto do <strong>Jardim</strong> apresenta<br />

uma notória semelhança com o Risco do<br />

<strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> para a Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> [3], não datado, da autoria <strong>de</strong><br />

Júlio Mattiazzi, publicado juntamente com<br />

outros Riscos das obras da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>, em 1983, pelo Museu Nacional <strong>de</strong><br />

Machado <strong>de</strong> Castro. Este projecto foi, com<br />

probabilida<strong>de</strong>, formulado a jusante do primeiro,<br />

pois <strong>de</strong>nota em relação a ele alguma<br />

simplificação. As diferenças resultam da<br />

redução do número <strong>de</strong> canteiros e <strong>de</strong> fontes<br />

<strong>de</strong> repuxo, bem como das peças escultóricas.<br />

O arboreto evi<strong>de</strong>ncia ainda uma disposição<br />

distinta, assumindo a forma <strong>de</strong> um<br />

quadrado, subdividido em quatro.<br />

Ambos os <strong>de</strong>senhos <strong>de</strong>nunciam fortes paralelismos<br />

com o <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> <strong>de</strong> Pádua,<br />

fundado em 1545. Com efeito, o esquema<br />

do círculo <strong>de</strong> canteiros que envolve o quadrado<br />

central, dividido, por sua vez, em<br />

quatro canteiros, é comum aos dois hortos.<br />

A distribuição das fontes <strong>de</strong> repuxo nesta<br />

zona coinci<strong>de</strong> igualmente, tal como se verifica<br />

pelo confronto das respectivas plantas.<br />

Ora, esta «marca» paduana <strong>de</strong>ve ser compreendida<br />

à luz do percurso <strong>de</strong> dois homens,<br />

cujo rumo passou quer por Pádua, quer por<br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>. Referimo-nos a Domenico Van<strong>de</strong>lli<br />

e a Júlio Mattiazzi, ambos nascidos na<br />

dita cida<strong>de</strong> italiana e familiarizados com o<br />

seu <strong>Jardim</strong>. O primeiro, naturalista <strong>de</strong> reconhecido<br />

prestígio, concluiu os cursos <strong>de</strong><br />

filosofia natural e medicina na Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> Pádua em 1761 e manteve correspondência<br />

com Lineu <strong>entre</strong> 1759 e 1773. Chega<br />

a Lisboa, a convite do marquês <strong>de</strong> Pombal,<br />

em 1764, à partida <strong>de</strong>stinado à docência<br />

no Colégio dos Nobres mas, na realida<strong>de</strong>,<br />

sem exercício <strong>de</strong> funções oficiais até 1768,<br />

altura em que aparece nomeado para dirigir<br />

as obras do <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da Ajuda. Em<br />

1772 vem para <strong>Coimbra</strong> ensinar química e<br />

história natural na recém criada Faculda<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> Filosofia, tendo-se nela graduado gratui-<br />

Both <strong>de</strong>signs have strong parallels with the<br />

Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n of Padua, foun<strong>de</strong>d in 1545.<br />

In fact, the scheme of a circle of flowerbeds<br />

around the central quadrangle, divi<strong>de</strong>d in<br />

turn into four beds, is shared by the two<br />

gar<strong>de</strong>ns, while the fountains in this area are<br />

distributed in a very similar manner, as comparison<br />

of the two plans clearly shows.<br />

This influence must surely be un<strong>de</strong>rstood in<br />

the light of the careers of two men, whose<br />

path passed through both Padua and <strong>Coimbra</strong>.<br />

We are of course referring to Domenico<br />

Van<strong>de</strong>lli and Júlio Mattiazzi, who were both<br />

born in Padua and were familiar with its<br />

gar<strong>de</strong>n. The former, a naturalist of acknowledged<br />

prestige, completed his <strong>de</strong>grees in<br />

natural philosophy and medicine at the<br />

University of Padua in 1761 and maintained<br />

a correspon<strong>de</strong>nce with Linnaeus between<br />

1759 and 1773. He was invited to Lisbon by<br />

the Marquis of Pombal and arrived in 1764,<br />

ostensibly to take up a lectureship at the<br />

College of Nobles, though he did not in fact<br />

perform any official functions until 1768,<br />

when he was appointed to supervise the<br />

works being carried out at the Ajuda Botanical<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n. In 1772 he came to <strong>Coimbra</strong><br />

to teach chemistry and natural history in<br />

the recently created Faculty of Philosophy,<br />

graduating from it on 9th October of that<br />

year and on 12th of the same month from<br />

the Faculty of Medicine. The Statutes stipulated<br />

that the lectureship in natural history<br />

should entail responsibility for the Botanical<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n, and so he directed it until his<br />

retirement in January 1791, when he was<br />

replaced by Félix Avelar Brotero.<br />

35


tamente a 9 <strong>de</strong> Outubro <strong>de</strong>sse ano e a 12 do<br />

mesmo mês na Faculda<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> Medicina. A<br />

leccionação <strong>de</strong> história natural acarretava,<br />

cumulativamente, tal como se previa nos<br />

Estatutos, a «intendência» do <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong>,<br />

tarefa que exerceu até Janeiro <strong>de</strong> 1791,<br />

ano em que se jubilou e foi substituído na<br />

direcção do <strong>Jardim</strong> por Félix Avelar Brotero.<br />

Van<strong>de</strong>lli surge-nos associado a outros dois<br />

paduanos que se <strong>de</strong>bruçariam sobre o horto<br />

conimbricense. João António Dalla-Bella,<br />

graduado a 4 <strong>de</strong> Maio <strong>de</strong> 1773 na Faculda<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> Medicina e na <strong>de</strong> Filosofia, on<strong>de</strong> ensinou<br />

física, integrou, como acima relatámos, o<br />

grupo <strong>de</strong> professores que, juntamente com<br />

o reitor, visitaram e analisaram o local para<br />

o estabelecimento do <strong>Jardim</strong>. Mas é sobretudo<br />

Júlio Mattiazzi que nos importa <strong>de</strong>stacar,<br />

uma vez que, antes <strong>de</strong> ser trazido por<br />

Van<strong>de</strong>lli para Portugal, em 1768, para com<br />

ele colaborar em Lisboa e em <strong>Coimbra</strong>,<br />

<strong>de</strong>sempenhava funções <strong>de</strong> jardineiro no<br />

<strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> <strong>de</strong> Pádua. Não é, por conseguinte,<br />

<strong>de</strong> estranhar que o risco do <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

da Universida<strong>de</strong> por ele executado <strong>de</strong>ixe<br />

transparecer o mo<strong>de</strong>lo do da sua cida<strong>de</strong><br />

natal.<br />

Permanece incerto o lugar <strong>de</strong> Guilherme<br />

Els<strong>de</strong>n no <strong>de</strong>lineamento do inicial programa<br />

do <strong>Jardim</strong>, não sendo possível assegurar ser<br />

da sua autoria a planta guardada na biblioteca<br />

do Departamento <strong>de</strong> Botânica. Por<br />

um lado, sabe-se que, em Maio <strong>de</strong> 1773, o<br />

tenente-coronel já havia chegado a <strong>Coimbra</strong><br />

e, à partida, tudo indica que se tenha<br />

<strong>de</strong>dicado a tal tarefa, uma vez que o marquês<br />

o havia expressamente responsabilizado<br />

pela mesma. Aliás, quando, em Fevereiro<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1773, D. Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos escrevia<br />

ao ministro sobre a análise do terreno<br />

para o <strong>Jardim</strong> e o andamento das restantes<br />

obras universitárias, garantia que “fico esperando<br />

o tenente-coronel Els<strong>de</strong>n para com<br />

elle conferir tudo quanto respeita á execução<br />

das Plantas que V.ª Ex.ª foi servido<br />

remetter-me, e o mais que for preciso. E<br />

sem elle nada obrarei” 7 . A própria planta do<br />

36<br />

Van<strong>de</strong>lli’s name frequently appears associated<br />

with two other Paduans that were<br />

also connected to the <strong>Coimbra</strong> Gar<strong>de</strong>n,<br />

João António Dalla-Bella and Júlio Mattiazzi.<br />

Dalla-Bella, who graduated on 4th May<br />

1773 from the Faculty of Medicine and Philosophy,<br />

where he taught physics, was in<br />

the group of professors that, together with<br />

the Rector, visited and analysed the site for<br />

the Gar<strong>de</strong>n, as we have mentioned. But it<br />

is Júlio Mattiazzi that is most <strong>de</strong>serving of<br />

our attention, since before being brought<br />

to Portugal by Van<strong>de</strong>lli in 1768 to collaborate<br />

with him in Lisbon and <strong>Coimbra</strong>, had<br />

been the gar<strong>de</strong>ner at the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />

of Padua. It is therefore not surprising that<br />

his sketch for the University Gar<strong>de</strong>n should<br />

reflect features of the mo<strong>de</strong>l in his native<br />

city.<br />

The role played by William Els<strong>de</strong>n in the<br />

<strong>de</strong>lineation of the initial programme for<br />

the Gar<strong>de</strong>n remains unclear, since we do<br />

not know for certain if the plan kept in the<br />

Botany Department library is in fact by<br />

him. On the one hand, we know that he<br />

arrived in <strong>Coimbra</strong> in May 1773 and everything<br />

indicates at the outset that he was<br />

to un<strong>de</strong>rtake the task, since the Marquis<br />

had expressly appointed him for it. In<strong>de</strong>ed,<br />

when D. Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos wrote to the<br />

minister in February 1773 about the analysis<br />

of the terrain for the Gar<strong>de</strong>n and the<br />

progress of the remaining university works,<br />

he assured him that he was “awaiting Lieutenant-Colonel<br />

Els<strong>de</strong>n to discuss with him<br />

the plans that Your Excellency has sent me<br />

and anything else that is <strong>de</strong>emed necessary.<br />

Until he comes I shall not proceed” 7 .<br />

The plan itself, which had been drawn in<br />

the meantime, also reveals ignorance of the<br />

unevenness of the terrain, which could be<br />

explained by the fact that Els<strong>de</strong>n had not<br />

accompanied the rector and professors on<br />

their visit to the site, having been in Lisbon<br />

at the time “incapacitated with an attack of<br />

gout” 8 .<br />

On the other hand, we do not have his sig-


<strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>entre</strong>tanto concebida <strong>de</strong>ixa transparecer<br />

um certo alheamento relativamente<br />

ao seu <strong>de</strong>snivelado terreno <strong>de</strong> implantação,<br />

o que se po<strong>de</strong>ria explicar pelo facto <strong>de</strong><br />

Els<strong>de</strong>n não ter acompanhado o reitor e os<br />

professores na visita ao local, por se encontrar<br />

nessa altura ainda em Lisboa, “impossibilitado<br />

com um acci<strong>de</strong>nte <strong>de</strong> gota” 8 .<br />

Por outro lado, não temos a sua assinatura<br />

no projecto <strong>de</strong>positado na referida biblioteca,<br />

presumivelmente o enviado a Pombal,<br />

nem tão pouco a avaliação que <strong>de</strong>le o ministro<br />

fez refere Els<strong>de</strong>n como autor, sendo<br />

apenas vagamente mencionada “a Planta,<br />

que esses Professores <strong>de</strong>linearam”, esclarecendo-se,<br />

mais adiante, que “os ditos professores<br />

saõ italianos” 9 . A própria feição<br />

barroca da molduração do plano afasta-se<br />

do traço neoclássico que caracteriza os edifícios<br />

projectados por Els<strong>de</strong>n para a Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

e, recor<strong>de</strong>-se ainda, o carácter paduano<br />

da planta não po<strong>de</strong>ria resultar da experiência<br />

<strong>de</strong> um engenheiro inglês. Além disso,<br />

no relatório que Els<strong>de</strong>n dirige a Sebastião<br />

José <strong>de</strong> Carvalho e Melo, dando-lhe conhecimento<br />

dos trabalhos que, no âmbito das<br />

obras da Universida<strong>de</strong>, executou precisamente<br />

<strong>entre</strong> Julho e Setembro <strong>de</strong> 1773, não<br />

faz qualquer referência ao traçado da planta<br />

para o <strong>Jardim</strong>.<br />

Certo é o facto <strong>de</strong> uma primeira proposta<br />

não ter sido aprovada. Num ofício <strong>de</strong> 5 <strong>de</strong><br />

Outubro <strong>de</strong> 1773, o estadista rejeita veementemente<br />

o “dilatado espaço”, talhado<br />

“pelas medidas da (…) Fantasia”, o qual<br />

“absorberia os meyos pecuniarios da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

antes <strong>de</strong> concluir-se”. Frisando<br />

que “as couzas naõ saõ boas, por que saõ<br />

muito custozas, e Magnificas; mas sim, e taõ<br />

somente, porque saõ proprias, e a<strong>de</strong>quadas<br />

para o uso, que <strong>de</strong>llas se <strong>de</strong>ve fazer”, or<strong>de</strong>nava<br />

que se <strong>de</strong>lineasse outro plano, “reduzido<br />

somente ao numero <strong>de</strong> Ervas Medicinaes,<br />

que saõ indispensaveis para os exercicios<br />

Botanicos, e necessarios para se darem<br />

aos Estudantes as noçoens precizas para<br />

que naõ ignorem esta parte da Medicina;<br />

nature on the plan that is in the library<br />

(presumably the one sent to Pombal), nor<br />

does the Marquis’ assessment of it make<br />

any mention of Els<strong>de</strong>n as author. Instead it<br />

vaguely mentions “the plan that those professors<br />

drew up”, clarifying later on that “the<br />

aforementioned professors are Italian” 9 . The<br />

Baroque flavour of the ground plan is also<br />

quite different from the neoclassical style<br />

of the buildings <strong>de</strong>signed by Els<strong>de</strong>n for the<br />

University; and of course, the Paduan influence<br />

could not have resulted from the experience<br />

of an English engineer. Moreover, the<br />

report that Els<strong>de</strong>n addressed to Sebastião<br />

José <strong>de</strong> Carvalho e Melo informing him of<br />

the works that he had un<strong>de</strong>rtaken at the<br />

University between July and September<br />

1773 ma<strong>de</strong> no mention of the plans for the<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n.<br />

What is clear, however, is that the first proposal<br />

was not approved. In an official letter<br />

dated 5th October 1773, the Marquis vehemently<br />

rejected the “extensive space”,<br />

shaped “with fantastic dimensions”, which<br />

“would absorb the pecuniary resources of<br />

the University before it is finished”. Adding<br />

that “things are not good simply because<br />

they are very costly and magnificent, but<br />

rather, and only, because they are appropriate<br />

and suitable for the use that is to be<br />

ma<strong>de</strong> of them”, he or<strong>de</strong>red another plan to<br />

be drawn up, “reduced only to the number<br />

of medicinal herbs that are indispensable<br />

for botany exercises, and necessary to<br />

give the stu<strong>de</strong>nts precise notions so that<br />

they are not ignorant of that part of Medicine;<br />

(…) leaving for another time all that<br />

is botanical luxury, at present spreading all<br />

over Europe”.<br />

To dispel any doubts, he explained that<br />

the new <strong>de</strong>sign should be no bigger and<br />

no more sumptuous than Chelsea Gar<strong>de</strong>n,<br />

which he would certainly have known,<br />

having been stationed in London on diplomatic<br />

duty between 1739 and 1743. Finally,<br />

he advised that “a budget be calculated that<br />

is appropriate for a boys’ Study Gar<strong>de</strong>n,<br />

37


(…) Deixando-se para outro tempo o que<br />

pertencer ao Luxo Botanico, que actualmente<br />

grassa em toda a Europa”.<br />

Para dissipar qualquer dúvida, esclarecia que<br />

a nova concepção não <strong>de</strong>via ser nem maior<br />

nem mais sumptuosa do que a do <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> Chelsea em Londres, certamente familiar<br />

ao marquês que nesta cida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>sempenhara<br />

funções diplomáticas <strong>entre</strong> 1739<br />

e 1743. Por fim, recomendava que “se calcule<br />

por hum justo Orçamento o que ha<strong>de</strong><br />

custar o tal <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>de</strong> Estudo <strong>de</strong> rapazes, e<br />

naõ <strong>de</strong> Ostentaçaõ <strong>de</strong> Princepes, ou <strong>de</strong> particulares,<br />

daquelles extravagantes, e Opulentos,<br />

que estaõ arruinando gran<strong>de</strong>s Cazas<br />

na Cultura <strong>de</strong> Brêdos, Beldroégas, e Poejos<br />

da India, da China e da Arabia.” 10<br />

Os trabalhos acabariam por se iniciar sob<br />

planos mais mo<strong>de</strong>stos, mantendo, todavia,<br />

um traço tipicamente italiano. A Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

tomou conta do terreno a 16<br />

<strong>de</strong> Janeiro <strong>de</strong> 1774 e sem <strong>de</strong>mora as obras<br />

foram avançando. Principiou-se a construção<br />

da muralha <strong>de</strong> suporte do lado da cerca<br />

dos Beneditinos, bem como as obras <strong>de</strong> terraplanagem.<br />

Para ambas foram aproveitadas<br />

gran<strong>de</strong>s quantida<strong>de</strong>s <strong>de</strong> pedra e entulho,<br />

provenientes <strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>molições <strong>de</strong> parte<br />

do edifício dos Jesuítas e do castelo.<br />

Em Novembro <strong>de</strong>sse ano o Horto <strong>Botânico</strong><br />

estava pronto para receber as primeiras<br />

plantas, vindas por mar. Da sua plantação<br />

era encarregado Júlio Mattiazzi, jardineiro<br />

do Real <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da Ajuda, o<br />

qual <strong>de</strong>veria regressar à corte após o cumprimento<br />

<strong>de</strong> tal diligência, ficando João Luís<br />

Rodrigues responsável por <strong>de</strong>las cuidar, tornando-se<br />

este, assim, o primeiro jardineiro<br />

do novo <strong>Jardim</strong>.<br />

Desconhece-se o alcance da acção <strong>de</strong> Mattiazzi,<br />

aquando da sua presença em <strong>Coimbra</strong>,<br />

no âmbito da imposta re<strong>de</strong>finição<br />

do <strong>Jardim</strong> exigida por Pombal. Sabemos<br />

que o jardineiro tinha propensão a arquitecto,<br />

pois, quando Van<strong>de</strong>lli caracterizou<br />

o seu <strong>de</strong>sempenho, na parcial administração<br />

do Real Museu <strong>de</strong> História Natu-<br />

38<br />

rather than for the ostentation of princes or<br />

private individuals, that extravagance and<br />

opulence that is ruining the great houses<br />

with the cultivation of amaranth, purslane<br />

and pennyroyal from India, China and<br />

Arabia.” 10<br />

When the work eventually started, it was<br />

based upon more mo<strong>de</strong>st plans, though<br />

retaining typically Italian traits. The University<br />

took over the land on 16th January<br />

1774 and work went ahead without <strong>de</strong>lay.<br />

It began with the construction of a support<br />

wall alongsi<strong>de</strong> the grounds of the Benedictine<br />

College, and with the levelling of the<br />

land. Both operations ma<strong>de</strong> use of large<br />

quantities of stone and rubble from the<br />

<strong>de</strong>molition of part of the Jesuits’ building<br />

and the castle.<br />

In November of that year, the Botanical<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n was ready to receive the first<br />

plants, which were brought in by sea. Júlio<br />

Mattiazzi, gar<strong>de</strong>ner for the Royal Botanical<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n of Ajuda, was responsible for the<br />

planting, but returned to court afterwards,<br />

leaving João Luís Rodrigues in charge of looking<br />

after them. It was he who thus became<br />

the first gar<strong>de</strong>ner of the new Gar<strong>de</strong>n.<br />

The extent of Mattiazzi’s actions as regards<br />

the re<strong>de</strong>finition of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n in accordance<br />

with Pombal’s <strong>de</strong>mands is not known.<br />

However, we do know that the gar<strong>de</strong>ner<br />

had a certain propensity for architecture,<br />

for Van<strong>de</strong>lli, <strong>de</strong>scribing his compatriot’s<br />

partial administration of the Royal Museum<br />

of Natural History and Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n of<br />

Ajuda while teaching in <strong>Coimbra</strong>, specifically<br />

mentioned his fascination with architecture.<br />

The Paduan’s experience may therefore<br />

have resulted in a reconfiguring of the<br />

terrain, although there are no known documents<br />

that confirm it. Mattiazzi’s stay was<br />

relatively short, and he was probably on his<br />

way back to Lisbon in January.<br />

We are sure, however, that, shortly after<br />

the arrival of the gar<strong>de</strong>ner, alterations were<br />

ma<strong>de</strong> to the area and levelling of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n.<br />

In fact, the Rector, who wanted to increase


al e <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da Ajuda durante o<br />

período em que o naturalista assegurava a<br />

docência coimbrã, <strong>de</strong>ixa bem claro a sedução<br />

do seu compatriota pela arquitectura.<br />

Da experiência do paduano po<strong>de</strong>ria ter<br />

resultado uma reconfiguração do terreno.<br />

No entanto, <strong>de</strong>sconhece-se qualquer documento<br />

que o confirme. A estadia <strong>de</strong> Matti<br />

azzi foi relativamente curta e, provavelmente<br />

em Janeiro, estaria já <strong>de</strong> volta a<br />

Lisboa.<br />

Resta-nos a certeza <strong>de</strong> que, pouco <strong>de</strong>pois da<br />

vinda do referido jardineiro, se realizaram<br />

alterações ao nível da área e nivelamento<br />

do <strong>Jardim</strong>. De facto, enten<strong>de</strong>ndo-se necessário<br />

aumentar o terreno <strong>de</strong>stinado às culturas,<br />

o Reitor esten<strong>de</strong>u, através da compra<br />

<strong>de</strong> um olival, a área do <strong>Jardim</strong> até à estrada<br />

pública e pediu autorização ao Governo<br />

para adquirir mais terreno, com vista a conferir<br />

ao Horto uma forma mais regular. Concedida<br />

a licença a 7 <strong>de</strong> Dezembro <strong>de</strong> 1774,<br />

a compra foi ajustada com os fra<strong>de</strong>s marianos,<br />

apesar <strong>de</strong> só muito mais tar<strong>de</strong> ter sido<br />

realizada.<br />

A partir <strong>de</strong> 1777, com o falecimento do rei<br />

D. José I e a consequente «morte política»<br />

do marquês, o abrandamento do ritmo das<br />

obras universitárias não <strong>de</strong>ixou <strong>de</strong> se reflectir<br />

também na construção <strong>de</strong>ste estabelecimento,<br />

apesar dos esforços movidos por<br />

D. Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos para cativar a atenção<br />

da nova rainha, D. Maria I. A Relação<br />

geral do estado da Universida<strong>de</strong> redigida<br />

pelo reitor-reformador e remetida, em 1777,<br />

à soberana, materializa o intuito <strong>de</strong> não<br />

<strong>de</strong>ixar cair por terra a reestruturação principiada.<br />

Misto <strong>de</strong> justificação da própria<br />

reforma e <strong>de</strong> balanço da obra feita e da por<br />

realizar, o texto salienta, na parte referente<br />

ao <strong>Jardim</strong>, o facto <strong>de</strong> este continuar longe<br />

<strong>de</strong> estar terminado pois, à excepção <strong>de</strong> uma<br />

pequena estufa construída em 1776, os trabalhos<br />

e verbas gastas até então (1.349$045<br />

reis) tinham sido essencialmente <strong>de</strong>dicados<br />

a entulhar as partes baixas, a fim <strong>de</strong> se obter<br />

no recinto “a igualda<strong>de</strong> possivel” 11 .<br />

the amount of land given over to cultures,<br />

bought an olive grove and exten<strong>de</strong>d the<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n as far as the public road; he also<br />

applied for authorization from the Government<br />

to acquire more land in or<strong>de</strong>r to make<br />

it more regular in shape. After the granting<br />

of the licence on 7th December 1774, the<br />

purchase was negotiated with the Marian<br />

friars, although the <strong>de</strong>al was only finalized<br />

much later.<br />

From 1777, with the <strong>de</strong>ath of the king D.<br />

José I and the consequent political <strong>de</strong>mise<br />

of the Marquis, there was a slackening of<br />

momentum as regards the building works<br />

at the university, reflected also in the construction<br />

of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n, <strong>de</strong>spite the efforts<br />

of D. Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos to interest the new<br />

queen, D. Maria I, in the project. The “General<br />

Report on the State of the University”<br />

drawn up by the reformer rector and sent<br />

to the sovereign in 1777 reflects his intention<br />

not to abandon the plan for restructuring.<br />

The text, which both justifies the<br />

reform itself and presents a balance of the<br />

works done and still to do, mentions that<br />

the Gar<strong>de</strong>n was far from being finished;<br />

with the exception of a small greenhouse<br />

built in 1776, almost all the work and funds<br />

spent until then (1349$045 reis) had been<br />

directed at filling in the low parts in or<strong>de</strong>r<br />

to obtain a surface “as level as possible” 11 .<br />

It is believed that this manuscript was complemented<br />

by a volume entitled, on the<br />

binding, Riscos das Obras da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong> (“Sketches for Works on the<br />

University of <strong>Coimbra</strong>”), which inclu<strong>de</strong>d<br />

not only a <strong>de</strong>scription of the state of the<br />

new constructions in September 1777 and<br />

a list of expenses, but also a series of thirty<br />

drawings of those constructions. The last<br />

two concern the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n: one is<br />

the plan drawn up by Júlio Mattiazzi, which<br />

we have already <strong>de</strong>scribed; the other is the<br />

“Sketch of the Greenhouses of the Botanical<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n of the University of <strong>Coimbra</strong>” [4],<br />

undated and unsigned. Curiously, there is<br />

a very similar drawing to this in the Botany<br />

39


Este manuscrito tinha como complemento,<br />

segundo se crê, um volume intitulado, na<br />

enca<strong>de</strong>rnação, Riscos das Obras da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, o qual compreen<strong>de</strong>, além<br />

da <strong>de</strong>scrição do estado em que se encontravam,<br />

em Setembro <strong>de</strong> 1777, os novos estabelecimentos,<br />

bem como da enumeração<br />

das <strong>de</strong>spesas, uma série <strong>de</strong> trinta <strong>de</strong>senhos,<br />

relativos a essas construções. Os dois finais<br />

dizem respeito ao <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong>: um é o<br />

plano elaborado por Júlio Mattiazzi, sobre<br />

o qual já nos <strong>de</strong>tivemos; o outro é o Risco<br />

das Estufas do <strong>Jardim</strong> Botanico da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, sem data ou assinatura<br />

[4]. Curiosamente, este último encontra<br />

também, na biblioteca do Departamento<br />

<strong>de</strong> Botânica, um <strong>de</strong>senho que muito se lhe<br />

assemelha.<br />

Titulado Risco das Estufas do Real <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

<strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong> [5], o<br />

grandioso projecto apresenta, pese embora<br />

a sua visível <strong>de</strong>terioração, as plantas, alçados<br />

e cortes das estufas, cuja interpretação nos<br />

é facilitada pela legenda à esquerda do conjunto.<br />

A planta da estufa principal apresenta<br />

nove compartimentos: ao centro localiza-se<br />

a “caza das liçoens”; à sua esquerda, do meio<br />

para o topo do edifício, prevê-se um tepidário,<br />

um “calidário”, um novo tepidário e,<br />

por fim, uma casa <strong>de</strong>stinada à conservação<br />

40<br />

Department.<br />

Entitled Risco das Estufas do Real <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

<strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong><br />

(“Sketch of the Greenhouses of the Royal<br />

Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n of the University of <strong>Coimbra</strong>’)<br />

[5], the grandiose project shows,<br />

<strong>de</strong>spite visible <strong>de</strong>terioration, the ground<br />

plans, elevations and cross-sections of the<br />

greenhouses, with a key on the left hand<br />

si<strong>de</strong>. The ground plan of the main greenhouse<br />

shows nine compartments: in the<br />

c<strong>entre</strong> was the “lichen house”, to the left of<br />

which, in the upper half of the building, was<br />

a temperate house, a hot house, another<br />

temperate house and finally, a place for<br />

the conservation of seeds and the “dry herbarium”.<br />

To the right of the lichen house is<br />

the same succession of temperate and hot<br />

houses, culminating in a room <strong>de</strong>stined for<br />

the “botanical library”. A “bench of green”<br />

covers the corridor of the stoves which, at<br />

the back of the greenhouses, controls the<br />

temperature of the various sections.<br />

The main faça<strong>de</strong>, which contained eight<br />

doors into the “greenhouse passage”, is<br />

punctuated at intervals, according to neoclassical<br />

taste, by a sequence of roun<strong>de</strong>d<br />

arches on rustic-style pillars, on top of<br />

which is a balustra<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>corated with alternating<br />

vases and statues. The statues are all


das sementes e “erbario seco”; à direita da<br />

casa das lições surge-nos a mesma sucessão<br />

<strong>de</strong> tepidários e “calidário”, rematada, no<br />

extremo, por uma divisão <strong>de</strong>stinada a “livraria<br />

botanica”. Uma “banqueta <strong>de</strong> verdura”<br />

cobre o corredor dos fornos que, na parte<br />

posterior das estufas, permitem controlar a<br />

temperatura das várias secções.<br />

A fachada principal, na qual se abrem oito<br />

portas para a “serventia das Estufas”, é ritmada,<br />

ao gosto neoclássico, por uma<br />

sequência <strong>de</strong> arcos redondos assentes<br />

sobre pilares rusticados, encimada por uma<br />

balaustrada <strong>de</strong>corada por uma alternância<br />

<strong>de</strong> vasos e estátuas. Graças ao nome latino<br />

inscrito no plinto <strong>de</strong> cada escultura, é-nos<br />

possível i<strong>de</strong>ntificá-las na totalida<strong>de</strong>, confirmando<br />

o carácter erudito e simbólico <strong>de</strong>sta<br />

construção. Da direita para a esquerda<br />

suce<strong>de</strong>m-se as seguintes figuras: Avicena<br />

(médico e filósofo árabe), Galeno (um dos<br />

maiores médicos da Antiguida<strong>de</strong>), Hipócrates<br />

(médico grego, consi<strong>de</strong>rado o “pai<br />

da Medicina”), Bauhino (médico e botânico<br />

suíço), Cesalpino (médico e filosofo<br />

italiano), Dioscóri<strong>de</strong>s (médico e naturalista<br />

grego), Plínio (militar, funcionário imperial,<br />

historiador e cientista romano, autor<br />

da Historia Naturalis) e Teofrasto (filósofo<br />

e cientista sucessor <strong>de</strong> Aristóteles e autor<br />

<strong>de</strong> uma vasta produção, on<strong>de</strong> se incluem<br />

i<strong>de</strong>ntified by a Latin name carved into the<br />

plinth of each one, confirming the erudite<br />

and symbolic character of this construction.<br />

From right to left, we have the following figures:<br />

Avicenna (Arab doctor and philosopher),<br />

Galen (one of the greatest doctors of<br />

antiquity), Hippocrates (Greek doctor, consi<strong>de</strong>red<br />

the “father of medicine”), Bauhino<br />

(Swiss doctor and botanist), Cesalpino (Italian<br />

doctor and philosopher), Dioscori<strong>de</strong>s<br />

(Greek doctor and naturalist), Pliny (Roman<br />

soldier, imperial official, historian and scientist,<br />

and author of the Historia Naturalis)<br />

and Theophrastus (philosopher and scien-<br />

tist that succee<strong>de</strong>d Aristotle, and author of<br />

a vast oeuvre, including the works History of<br />

Plants and Causes of Plants, which earned<br />

him the epithet of creator of botany). In the<br />

c<strong>entre</strong> of this imposing corpus is a triangular<br />

pediment crowned with the Portuguese<br />

royal coat-of-arms, itself flanked by two allegorical<br />

figures.<br />

At the right end of the building is the door<br />

leading into the greenhouses on the Bentos<br />

si<strong>de</strong>, overlooked by the sculptures of Avicenna<br />

and Petiver (English botanist); at the<br />

opposite end, a statue of Theophrastus and<br />

another of Micheli (Florentine botanist)<br />

complete a window that “overlooks part<br />

of the Mon<strong>de</strong>go”. The pediment over the<br />

door leading into the lichen house, on the<br />

41


as obras Historia das Plantas e Causas das<br />

Plantas, as quais lhe valem o epíteto <strong>de</strong> criador<br />

da botânica). Ao centro <strong>de</strong>ste imponente<br />

corpo <strong>de</strong>staca-se um frontão triangular<br />

coroado pelo escudo real português,<br />

la<strong>de</strong>ado, por sua vez, por duas figuras alegóricas<br />

<strong>de</strong> cada lado.<br />

Na extremida<strong>de</strong> direita do edifício situase<br />

a porta <strong>de</strong> ingresso para as estufas do<br />

lado dos Bentos, sobrepujada pelas esculturas<br />

<strong>de</strong> Avicena e Petiver (botânico inglês);<br />

no extremo oposto, uma estátua <strong>de</strong> Teofrasto<br />

e outra <strong>de</strong> Micheli (botânico florentino)<br />

rematam uma janela que “cahe p.ª a<br />

parte do Mon<strong>de</strong>go”. A frontaria da porta <strong>de</strong><br />

ingresso para a “caza das liçoens”, do lado<br />

dos Bentos, é a<strong>de</strong>quadamente coroada por<br />

quatro estátuas <strong>de</strong> botânicos que foram<br />

professores em universida<strong>de</strong>s europeias em<br />

finais do século XVII e inícios do XVIII: Ponte<strong>de</strong>ra<br />

(botânico italiano, professor da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> Pádua e director do <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

<strong>Botânico</strong> <strong>de</strong>sta cida<strong>de</strong>), Morison (médico<br />

e botânico inglês, professor na Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> Oxford), Dillen (botânico alemão,<br />

docente em Oxford) e Lineu (célebre naturalista<br />

sueco, professor na Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

Upsala). Concomitantemente, o projecto<br />

prevê a construção <strong>de</strong> uma estufa <strong>de</strong> menor<br />

dimensão e mo<strong>de</strong>sto acabamento que serviria<br />

para as “sementeiras <strong>de</strong> America e<br />

Africa q <strong>de</strong>pen<strong>de</strong>m <strong>de</strong> muito calor”.<br />

Comparativamente ao plano das estufas<br />

que acompanharia a Relação geral do estado<br />

da Universida<strong>de</strong>, este <strong>de</strong>senho <strong>de</strong>nota<br />

um maior <strong>de</strong>senvolvimento pois, além da<br />

<strong>de</strong>scrição das construções já mencionadas,<br />

igualmente presentes no projecto enviado<br />

em 1777, contempla mais três edificações:<br />

o portal <strong>de</strong> entrada para o <strong>Jardim</strong> da parte<br />

dos Bentos, <strong>de</strong>corado com a representação<br />

<strong>de</strong> Hércules, famoso herói grego, e Minerva,<br />

<strong>de</strong>usa romana da sabedoria, do qual se faria<br />

uma cópia para o ingresso da parte dos<br />

Carmelitas Descalços; o portal <strong>de</strong> ingresso<br />

ao <strong>Jardim</strong> pela rua da Alegria, adornado<br />

com uma estátua <strong>de</strong> Fortuna, <strong>de</strong>usa romana<br />

42<br />

Bentos si<strong>de</strong>, is appropriately crowned with<br />

statues of four botanists that were professors<br />

in European universities at the end of<br />

the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries:<br />

Ponte<strong>de</strong>ra (Italian botanist, professor<br />

at the University of Padua and curator of<br />

that city’s botanical gar<strong>de</strong>n), Morrison (English<br />

physician and botanist, and professor at<br />

the University of Oxford), Dillen (German<br />

botanist and lecturer at Oxford) and Linnaeus<br />

(famous Swedish naturalist, professor<br />

at the University of Uppsala). The project<br />

also envisaged the construction of a smaller<br />

greenhouse with more mo<strong>de</strong>st finishings<br />

that would serve as “seedbeds for plants<br />

from America and Africa that require a lot<br />

of heat”.<br />

Compared to the plan of the greenhouses<br />

that accompanied the “General Report on<br />

the State of the University”, this one is more<br />

<strong>de</strong>veloped, since, in addition to the <strong>de</strong>scription<br />

of the constructions already mentioned,<br />

also present in the project sent in<br />

1777, it inclu<strong>de</strong>s three more buildings: the<br />

gateway into the Gar<strong>de</strong>n from the Bentos<br />

College, <strong>de</strong>corated with a representation<br />

of Hercules, the famous Greek hero, and<br />

Minerva, the Roman god<strong>de</strong>ss of knowledge,<br />

a copy of which was later ma<strong>de</strong> for<br />

the entrance from the Barefoot Carmelites;<br />

the gateway into the Gar<strong>de</strong>n from Alegria<br />

Street, adorned with a statue of Fortuna,<br />

the Roman god<strong>de</strong>ss of luck, and another of<br />

Ceres, Roman earth mother god<strong>de</strong>ss; and<br />

the ground plan and cross section of the<br />

staircase that allowed access to the Gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />

from the public footpath, and the gateway<br />

protecting it, <strong>de</strong>corated with two sculptures,<br />

including Asklepius, the Roman god<br />

of medicine.<br />

A comparison of the two sketches reveals<br />

that the undated drawing from the Botany<br />

Department library was probably executed<br />

before the one in the album “Sketches for<br />

Works on the University of <strong>Coimbra</strong>” that<br />

was sent to the queen. In fact, it could have<br />

accompanied the first Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n


do Acaso, e outra <strong>de</strong> Ceres, <strong>de</strong>usa maternal<br />

da Terra para os romanos; a planta e corte<br />

da escada que permitiria o acesso ao <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

pelo passeio público, bem como o portal<br />

que a resguardaria, guarnecido <strong>de</strong> duas<br />

esculturas, <strong>entre</strong> as quais Esculápio, <strong>de</strong>us<br />

romano da medicina.<br />

Do confronto <strong>entre</strong> ambos os riscos po<strong>de</strong>se,<br />

portanto, concluir que, embora o <strong>de</strong>senho<br />

da biblioteca do Departamento <strong>de</strong><br />

Botânica não patenteie uma data, ele terá<br />

sido, com probabilida<strong>de</strong>, formulado antes<br />

daquele que viria a integrar o álbum Riscos<br />

das Obras da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>,<br />

enviado à rainha. Po<strong>de</strong>ria, com efeito, ter<br />

acompanhado o primeiro projecto para o<br />

<strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> avaliado e recusado, pela<br />

sua sumptuosida<strong>de</strong>, em 1773 pelo marquês.<br />

Por outro lado, o facto <strong>de</strong> tanto o plano do<br />

<strong>Jardim</strong> como o das estufas que se acham na<br />

dita biblioteca encontrarem um «correspon<strong>de</strong>nte»<br />

nos <strong>de</strong>senhos enviados em 1777<br />

à soberana, leva-nos a consi<strong>de</strong>rar a hipótese<br />

<strong>de</strong> ter havido, da parte do reitor, a tentativa<br />

<strong>de</strong> retomar a configuração outrora<br />

reprovada pelo ministro <strong>de</strong> D. José. Se assim<br />

foi, o intuito <strong>de</strong> D. Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos não<br />

vingou uma vez mais, pois nem estas estufas<br />

foram construídas, nem o <strong>Jardim</strong> obe<strong>de</strong>ceu<br />

ao grandioso feitio. O remediado plano<br />

seguido parece ter sido, afinal, o resultado<br />

da adaptação das linhas italianas às possibilida<strong>de</strong>s<br />

económicas, às sensibilida<strong>de</strong>s<br />

dos que sobre este espaço se foram <strong>de</strong>bruçando,<br />

aos condicionalismos do terreno e<br />

das ocasiões e às necessida<strong>de</strong>s pedagógicas<br />

que reclamavam um ponto final a este<br />

moroso processo construtivo.<br />

O ano <strong>de</strong> 1779 assinala a exoneração <strong>de</strong> D.<br />

Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos, o qual só voltaria ao<br />

governo da Universida<strong>de</strong> vinte anos mais<br />

tar<strong>de</strong>. Neste <strong>entre</strong>tanto, correspon<strong>de</strong>nte<br />

aos reitorados <strong>de</strong> D. José Francisco <strong>de</strong> Mendonça<br />

e D. Francisco Rafael <strong>de</strong> Castro, prosseguiram<br />

os trabalhos. Edificou-se uma<br />

casa para as lições <strong>de</strong> botânica. Em 1790<br />

ficou terminado o terrapleno inferior, ainda<br />

project that had been assessed and rejected<br />

by the Marquis for being too sumptuous.<br />

On the other hand, the fact that the plans<br />

of both gar<strong>de</strong>n and greenhouses found in<br />

that library have a counterpart in the drawings<br />

sent in 1777 to the queen suggests that<br />

there may have been an attempt on the part<br />

of the rector to revive the earlier configuration<br />

rejected by the Marquis. If so, then it<br />

was unsuccessful a second time round, for<br />

the greenhouses remained unbuilt and the<br />

gar<strong>de</strong>n did not follow the grandiose <strong>de</strong>sign.<br />

The plan that was eventually adopted seems<br />

to have been the result of an adaptation of<br />

Italian lines to the economic possibilities,<br />

the sensibilities of those involved, the limitations<br />

of the terrain and circumstances,<br />

and educational needs, which <strong>de</strong>man<strong>de</strong>d<br />

an end to the longwin<strong>de</strong>d process of construction.<br />

In 1779 D. Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos was discharged<br />

from his position as rector, only<br />

returning to govern the University twenty<br />

years later. During this interval, un<strong>de</strong>r the<br />

rectorates of D. José Francisco <strong>de</strong> Mendonça<br />

and D. Francisco Rafael <strong>de</strong> Castro,<br />

the works went ahead. A house was built<br />

for botany lessons. In 1790, the lower level,<br />

still today known as the “central quadrangle”,<br />

was completed, as was the tank in the<br />

middle of it and the plumbing system used<br />

for most of the waters. In this period, the<br />

or<strong>de</strong>r was also given to construct a larger<br />

greenhouse, as the existing one “would not<br />

satisfy the purposes for which it had been<br />

built” 12 .<br />

The plan for the greenhouses of the Botanical<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n, signed by Manuel Alves Macomboa<br />

and dated April 1791, responds to this<br />

need. This master carpenter, who had been<br />

called by the Marquis in 1773 to work on<br />

the University buildings, had also since 1777<br />

performed the role of master stonemason<br />

and, following the <strong>de</strong>ath of William Els<strong>de</strong>n,<br />

took over the function of architect in 1782.<br />

His <strong>de</strong>signs of the ground plan and elevation<br />

of the main faça<strong>de</strong> of the greenhouses,<br />

43


hoje conhecido por «quadrado central», o<br />

tanque situado no meio <strong>de</strong>ste e o encanamento<br />

<strong>de</strong> gran<strong>de</strong> parte das águas. É igualmente<br />

<strong>de</strong>sta época a or<strong>de</strong>m <strong>de</strong> construção<br />

<strong>de</strong> uma estufa <strong>de</strong> maiores dimensões, visto<br />

que a existente “não satisfazia o fim a que<br />

era <strong>de</strong>stinada” 12 .<br />

O projecto para as estufas no <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong>,<br />

assinado por Manuel Alves Macomboa<br />

e datado <strong>de</strong> Abril <strong>de</strong> 1791, articula uma<br />

resposta a esta necessida<strong>de</strong>. Chamado pelo<br />

marquês, em 1773, para as obras da Universida<strong>de</strong>,<br />

este mestre carpinteiro acumula,<br />

<strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> 1777, os serviços <strong>de</strong> mestre pedreiro<br />

e, <strong>de</strong>pois do falecimento <strong>de</strong> Guilherme<br />

Els<strong>de</strong>n, assume, a partir <strong>de</strong> 1782, a função<br />

<strong>de</strong> arquitecto. O <strong>de</strong>senho que faz da planta<br />

e alçado da fachada principal das estufas,<br />

para o qual apresenta duas propostas divergentes<br />

apenas na altura, filia-se num sóbrio<br />

classicismo. Três vãos laterais emolduram<br />

um arco central encimado por frontão<br />

triangular em correspondência com a porta<br />

<strong>de</strong> entrada, igualmente dotada <strong>de</strong> frontão<br />

triangular, interrompido por um medalhão<br />

com “Busto [que] po<strong>de</strong> ser <strong>de</strong> Lineu =<br />

querendo=” 13 .<br />

Desconhece-se se este traçado veio a<br />

ser executado. No entanto, a julgar pelo<br />

Mapa do terreno que ocupa o <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

<strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong><br />

[6], elaborado em 1795 por Macomboa,<br />

parece-nos que tal proposta veio a ter,<br />

<strong>de</strong> forma parcial, seguimento. De facto, a<br />

planta das estufas <strong>de</strong>lineada no dito mapa<br />

assemelha-se à proposta por si avançada<br />

em 1791, indicando-se a parte já acabada<br />

e a somente projectada. Este mapa dá-nos<br />

ainda conta do andamento dos trabalhos,<br />

representando já os lanços <strong>de</strong> escadas e<br />

parapeitos do gran<strong>de</strong> quadrado inferior que<br />

haviam sido terminados em 1794. Neste ano<br />

foram também concluídos os portões <strong>de</strong><br />

acesso ao quadrado central, encontrandose<br />

no do lado Este uma inscrição laudatória<br />

a D. Maria com a data <strong>de</strong> 1791.<br />

Em 1799 o bispo-con<strong>de</strong> D. Francisco <strong>de</strong><br />

44<br />

for which he presented two proposals that<br />

differed only as to height, are in a sober classical<br />

style. Three si<strong>de</strong> bays frame a central<br />

arch topped by a triangular pediment, leading<br />

to a doorway, also with triangular pediment,<br />

<strong>de</strong>corated with a medallion bearing a<br />

“bust [that] could be Linnaeus” 13 .<br />

We do not know if this <strong>de</strong>sign was ever executed.<br />

However, judging by the “Map of the<br />

terrain occupied by the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />

of University of <strong>Coimbra</strong>” [6] drawn in 1795<br />

by Macomboa, it would seem that it was at<br />

least partially followed. In fact, the outline<br />

of the greenhouses in that map resembles<br />

his own proposal put forward in 1791, indicating<br />

the part that was already completed<br />

and that which was merely planned. This<br />

groundplan also informs us of the progress<br />

of the works and already shows the flights of<br />

stairs and parapets of the large lower quadrangle<br />

that had been finished in 1794. In<br />

that year, the doorways giving access to the<br />

central quadrangle were also finished, with<br />

an inscription in praise of D. Maria, dated<br />

1791, on the eastern si<strong>de</strong>.<br />

In 1799, the bishop-count D. Francisco <strong>de</strong><br />

Lemos returned to direct the University,<br />

remaining in the post until 1821. From the<br />

moment he resumed functions, he committed<br />

himself to furthering the works on the<br />

Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n, an effort which unfortunately<br />

was less fruitful than in his first<br />

period in office, given the context, marked<br />

by the French invasions and political convulsions<br />

on the national scale.<br />

In 1801, he or<strong>de</strong>red the construction of the<br />

stairs on the second level. The unsigned and<br />

undated <strong>de</strong>sign in Chinese ink and watercolour<br />

on paper that is found in the General<br />

Library of the University of <strong>Coimbra</strong> was<br />

probably the project for the stairs linking<br />

the second and third levels of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n,<br />

drawn up at the end of the 18th century<br />

and put into practice at the beginning of<br />

the 19th. In fact, this plan was clearly followed<br />

since, on both the north and south<br />

si<strong>de</strong>s of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n, the staircases leading to


Lemos retoma a direcção da Universida<strong>de</strong>,<br />

mantendo-se no cargo até 1821. Logo que<br />

reassumiu funções empenhou-se em dar o<br />

maior <strong>de</strong>senvolvimento às obras do <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

<strong>Botânico</strong>, esforço que, porém, não viria a ser<br />

tão frutífero como no seu primeiro reitorado<br />

dado o contexto, marcado pelas invasões<br />

francesas e pelas convulsões políticas<br />

nacionais, em que se <strong>de</strong>senrolou.<br />

Em 1801 or<strong>de</strong>nou a construção das escadas<br />

do segundo plano. O <strong>de</strong>senho a tinta-<br />

-da-china e aguada castanha e cinzenta<br />

sobre papel, não datado nem assinado, que<br />

se encontra na Biblioteca Geral da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, constitui, com probabilida<strong>de</strong>,<br />

o projecto, guisado no final do<br />

século XVIII e posto em prática no começo<br />

da centúria seguinte, para o levantamento<br />

das escadas <strong>entre</strong> o segundo e terceiro<br />

plano do <strong>Jardim</strong>. De facto, da sua observação<br />

resulta o reconhecimento que tal plano<br />

veio a ter consecução, uma vez que, quer do<br />

lado Norte, quer do lado Sul do <strong>Jardim</strong>, as<br />

the third level follow the scheme proposed.<br />

Moreover, of the two solutions put forward<br />

for the endings of the walls, it is precisely<br />

the <strong>de</strong>coration marked “not suitable” that<br />

seems to have been used, if we look carefully<br />

at the present Gar<strong>de</strong>n.<br />

In 1807, the purchase of part of the grounds<br />

belonging to the Marian priests, negotiated<br />

33 years before, finally went ahead. It<br />

was also the year when Félix Avelar Brotero<br />

(who had been in charge of the scientific<br />

organization of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n since 1791<br />

and was responsible for the teaching of<br />

botany and agriculture) ma<strong>de</strong> his most<br />

<strong>de</strong>cisive pronouncement about the plan<br />

to be followed in the Gar<strong>de</strong>n. The report<br />

sent to the rector on 5th March 1807 is of<br />

great importance, not only because in it<br />

Avelar Brotero specifies the <strong>de</strong>finition and<br />

aims of this type of establishment, but also<br />

because he indicates which parts of it were<br />

essential and which secondary [7], accompanied<br />

by a survey of what had been com-<br />

45


escadarias que dão acesso ao terceiro patamar<br />

obe<strong>de</strong>cem ao esquema proposto. Por<br />

outro lado, das duas soluções avançadas<br />

para o remate dos muretes, é precisamente<br />

o ornato indicado como aquele que “não<br />

serve”, o que irá, segundo nos parece, ter<br />

seguimento, tal como se conclui através <strong>de</strong><br />

um olhar atento sobre o <strong>Jardim</strong> actual.<br />

Do ano <strong>de</strong> 1807, altura em que realizou<br />

finalmente a compra da parte da cerca dos<br />

Marianos, agendada há já 33 anos, data<br />

o pronunciamento mais <strong>de</strong>cisivo <strong>de</strong> Félix<br />

Avelar Brotero, encarregado <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> 1791<br />

da organização científica do <strong>Jardim</strong> e da<br />

regência da ca<strong>de</strong>ira <strong>de</strong> botânica e agricultura,<br />

acerca do plano a seguir no <strong>Jardim</strong>. O<br />

relatório enviado ao reitor, a 5 <strong>de</strong> Março <strong>de</strong><br />

1807, reveste-se da maior importância, quer<br />

pelo facto <strong>de</strong> nele Avelar Brotero precisar a<br />

<strong>de</strong>finição e os objectivos <strong>de</strong>ste tipo <strong>de</strong> estabelecimento,<br />

quer pela indicação das suas<br />

partes essenciais e secundárias [7], acompanhada<br />

do levantamento do que estava feito<br />

e do que havia <strong>de</strong> o ser. Dela se <strong>de</strong>preen<strong>de</strong>,<br />

concomitantemente, uma crítica velada às<br />

anteriores restrições pombalinas, as quais,<br />

embora na memória, seriam conveniente e<br />

conscientemente esquecidas com o passar<br />

dos anos e o avolumar <strong>de</strong> exemplos <strong>de</strong> similares<br />

jardins que outras universida<strong>de</strong>s europeias<br />

vinham promovendo.<br />

Da exposição <strong>de</strong>ste naturalista, por muitos<br />

46<br />

pleted and what was still to do. It also offers<br />

a veiled criticism of the previous Pombaline<br />

restrictions, which, though still within living<br />

memory, had been conveniently and consciously<br />

forgotten with the passage of the<br />

years and the <strong>de</strong>velopment of similar gar<strong>de</strong>ns<br />

in other European universities.<br />

The arguments put forward by this naturalist<br />

(whom many called the “Portuguese Linnaeus”)<br />

are interesting as regards the <strong>Coimbra</strong><br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n. In relation to its essential parts,<br />

Brotero highlighted: “or<strong>de</strong>red beds” (E),<br />

confirming that “this is done with walls, balconies<br />

and iron gates”; “Parterre – groups<br />

without any scientific or<strong>de</strong>r, contributing to<br />

the <strong>de</strong>coration and conservation of many<br />

species” (P), adding that this was “almost<br />

finished on the upper level”; “hot and temperate<br />

house” (T), of which the temperate<br />

house was ready; “Shelter” (A), “begun on<br />

the eastern si<strong>de</strong> of the temperate house;<br />

“Site for seed beds” (S), “begun on the si<strong>de</strong> of<br />

the arches and only later planted with trees<br />

that <strong>de</strong>mand shelter”; “Avenues and copses”<br />

(L), “1. on the land between the main street<br />

and the wall along the public road; 2. on<br />

the slopes of the hill next to the walls of<br />

the Carmelite and Benedictine grounds;<br />

3. on a portion of the terrain right next to<br />

the northern gate entrance”; “Damp shady<br />

place (the hill next to the grounds of the<br />

Benedictine friars)” and finally, the “water


apelidado <strong>de</strong> “Linneo portuguez”, interessanos<br />

sobretudo sublinhar o que a respeito do<br />

<strong>Jardim</strong> conimbricense se discriminava. Em<br />

relação às suas partes essenciais, Brotero<br />

<strong>de</strong>stacava: “eschola methodica” (E), confirmando<br />

que “está feita com muros, varandas<br />

e portas <strong>de</strong> ferro”; “Parterre – grupos sem<br />

or<strong>de</strong>m scientifica, contribuindo para <strong>de</strong>coração<br />

e conservação <strong>de</strong> muitas especies”<br />

(P), acrescentando estar “quasi estabelecido<br />

no plano superior á eschola”; “Estufa quente<br />

e temperada” (T), estando feita a temperada;<br />

“Abrigadouro” (A), “principiado ao<br />

lado oriental da estufa temperada; “Logar<br />

para sementeiras” (S), “começado do lado<br />

dos arcos, sendo <strong>de</strong>pois plantado com arvores<br />

que exigiam abrigo”; “Lamedas e bosquetes”<br />

(L), “1.º no terreno que fica <strong>entre</strong> a<br />

rua principal e o muro ao longo da estrada<br />

publica; 2.º nas encostas da collina contigua<br />

aos muros das cercas dos Carmelitas e benedictinos;<br />

3.º numa porção <strong>de</strong> terreno que<br />

fica logo á entrada da porta septentrional”;<br />

“Logar húmido e sombrio (a collina vizinha<br />

á cerca dos fra<strong>de</strong>s bentos)” e, finalmente,<br />

“<strong>de</strong>positos <strong>de</strong> agua” 14 . Quanto às partes<br />

secundárias <strong>de</strong>stacava a aula, o lugar <strong>de</strong> cultura<br />

<strong>de</strong> plantas medicinais (M), a <strong>de</strong>coração<br />

(a<strong>de</strong>quada à natureza do local e às possibilida<strong>de</strong>s<br />

económicas) e as casas do professor,<br />

do jardineiro e do guarda.<br />

O minucioso exame que acabámos <strong>de</strong><br />

transcrever <strong>de</strong>ixa transparecer não só o<br />

pragmatismo do docente, mas também o<br />

seu profundo conhecimento da realida<strong>de</strong><br />

do dito recinto. Contudo, os tempos que<br />

se avizinhavam não viriam a permitir que<br />

este relatório assumisse o carácter <strong>de</strong> programa<br />

a levar à prática. Com efeito, aproximavam-se<br />

as invasões francesas e, com<br />

elas, todas as obras seriam interrompidas.<br />

O último apontamento que temos do ano<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1807, um plano do <strong>Jardim</strong> elaborado por<br />

José do Couto [8], ficaria na gaveta e só seria<br />

retomado após o fim da Guerra Peninsular.<br />

Entretanto, Avelar Brotero partiria para<br />

Lisboa para aí dirigir o <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da<br />

tanks” 14 . As regards the secondary parts, he<br />

indicated the classroom; the place for the<br />

cultivation of medicinal plants (M); <strong>de</strong>coration<br />

(suitable for the nature of the site and<br />

economic possibilities) and the houses of<br />

the professor, gar<strong>de</strong>ner and guard.<br />

This careful examination reveals not only<br />

the teacher’s pragmatism but also his profound<br />

knowledge of the site itself. However,<br />

in the coming years, it would not be possible<br />

for this report to become a programme<br />

to be put into practice. In fact, the French<br />

invasions were at hand, and with them, all<br />

building work was interrupted. The last<br />

notes we have from the year 1807, a ground<br />

plan of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n by José do Couto [8],<br />

were shelved and would only be taken up<br />

again at the end of the Peninsula War. In the<br />

meantime, Avelar Brotero left for Lisbon to<br />

run the Ajuda Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>ns, retiring in<br />

1811.<br />

If there were any <strong>de</strong>signs or plans dating<br />

from the period of the French invasions,<br />

they are not known. We do, however, have<br />

the testimony of a contemporary witness<br />

who allows us to imagine what the place<br />

was like at that time. Laura Junot, duchess<br />

of Abrantes and wife of the French ambassador<br />

in Portugal, <strong>de</strong>clared in 1808 that “the<br />

Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n of <strong>Coimbra</strong> was consi<strong>de</strong>rably<br />

better than the gar<strong>de</strong>n of the king<br />

in Lisbon. Each plant had a plaque with its<br />

classification number, like in the Paris ‘Plant<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n’, which meant that the strange and<br />

beautiful flora of Portugal could be properly<br />

studied” 15 .<br />

While the botanical merits of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />

were recognised, architecturally it had still<br />

to be completed. Work was resumed on it<br />

from 1814 un<strong>de</strong>r the direction of António<br />

José das Neves e Mello. Between 1814 and<br />

1821, the land was levelled between the central<br />

and upper roads, and work went ahead<br />

on the construction of the outer wall and<br />

railings, with iron brought over from Stockholm<br />

for this purpose. In 1822, the gate on<br />

the si<strong>de</strong> of the seminary was built.<br />

47


Ajuda, jubilando-se em 1811.<br />

Do período das invasões francesas, se a<br />

<strong>de</strong>senhos ou plantas não nos po<strong>de</strong>mos<br />

reportar, temos porém um testemunho<br />

contemporâneo que nos possibilita imaginar<br />

o estado em que se encontrava este<br />

espaço. Laura Junot, duquesa <strong>de</strong> Abrantes e<br />

esposa do embaixador francês em Portugal,<br />

<strong>de</strong>clarava em 1808 que “el Jardín Botánico<br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong> era bastante superior al jardín<br />

<strong>de</strong>l rey en Lisboa. Cada planta tenía tablilla<br />

com su nombre <strong>de</strong> clasificación, como en el<br />

«Jardin <strong>de</strong>s Plantes» <strong>de</strong> Paris, permitiendo<br />

estudiar perfectamente la curiosa y bella<br />

flora <strong>de</strong> Portugal” 15 .<br />

Se do ponto <strong>de</strong> vista botânico se reconheciam<br />

méritos, a parte arquitectónica permanecia<br />

por apurar. A ela se <strong>de</strong>dicariam<br />

os trabalhos, retomados a partir <strong>de</strong> 1814 e<br />

cuja direcção se <strong>entre</strong>gou a António José<br />

das Neves e Mello. Entre 1814 e 1821 realizaram-se<br />

as terraplanagens <strong>entre</strong> a rua central<br />

e a superior e proce<strong>de</strong>u-se à construção<br />

do muro e gradaria exterior, mandandose<br />

vir, para este efeito, ferro <strong>de</strong> Estocolmo.<br />

Em 1822 foi construído o portão do lado do<br />

48<br />

José do Couto dos Santos Leal’s project for<br />

the main gate of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n was approved<br />

in 1818. This is a <strong>de</strong>sign in Chinese ink and<br />

watercolour on paper [9], which is preserved<br />

in the Machado <strong>de</strong> Castro National<br />

Museum. It presents two alternative proposals;<br />

the columns and pillars are on tall<br />

bases and are topped by an entablature finished<br />

off with pronounced volutes, differing<br />

mostly as regards the coping. The one<br />

on the right is completed with an allegorical<br />

figure of Nature; the one on the left, which<br />

was approved and executed, <strong>de</strong>velops more<br />

mo<strong>de</strong>stly, culminating upwards in two urns<br />

and a pinnacle.<br />

The project was certainly executed before<br />

1839, the date of publication of the famous<br />

watercolour of Saint Anne’s Fountain, lithographed<br />

by Louis Hague, which shows the<br />

gateway already built, with only its iron gate<br />

missing. This was placed later, since it has<br />

the date of 1844 on its upper wing and the<br />

name of the locksmith, Manuel Bernar<strong>de</strong>s<br />

Galinha, near the lock.<br />

The gateway near St Sebastian’s aqueduct<br />

was also built in the first <strong>de</strong>ca<strong>de</strong>s of the 19th


seminário.<br />

Data <strong>de</strong> 1818 a aprovação do projecto para<br />

o portal principal do <strong>Jardim</strong>, da autoria <strong>de</strong><br />

José do Couto dos Santos Leal. Trata-se<br />

<strong>de</strong> um <strong>de</strong>senho a tinta-da-china e aguada<br />

sobre papel [9] que se conserva no Museu<br />

Nacional <strong>de</strong> Machado <strong>de</strong> Castro. Apresenta<br />

duas propostas alternativas – <strong>de</strong>finidas por<br />

um alto envasamento sobre o qual se conjugam<br />

colunas e pilastras encimadas por<br />

um entablamento rematado por uma pronunciada<br />

voluta – que diferem sobretudo<br />

ao nível do coroamento. A da direita é concluída<br />

por uma figura alegórica da Natureza;<br />

a da esquerda, aprovada e executada,<br />

<strong>de</strong>senvolve-se <strong>de</strong> forma mais mo<strong>de</strong>sta, culminando,<br />

em ritmo ascen<strong>de</strong>nte, com duas<br />

urnas e um pináculo.<br />

O projecto foi certamente realizado ainda<br />

antes <strong>de</strong> 1839, data da publicação da célebre<br />

água-tinta, representando a Fonte <strong>de</strong><br />

Sant’Ana, gravada por Louis Hague, na qual<br />

se observa, em segundo plano, o portal já<br />

levantado, faltando-lhe apenas a colocação<br />

da sua porta <strong>de</strong> ferro. Esta é posterior,<br />

patenteando na ban<strong>de</strong>ira a data <strong>de</strong> 1844 e<br />

o nome do serralheiro responsável, Manuel<br />

Bernar<strong>de</strong>s Galinha, junto da fechadura.<br />

O portal <strong>de</strong> entrada do lado do aqueduto<br />

<strong>de</strong> S. Sebastião foi erguido também nas primeiras<br />

décadas do século XIX, pois aparece<br />

já representado quer na água-tinta a que<br />

já nos referimos, quer num <strong>de</strong>senho <strong>de</strong> D.<br />

Maria José Pereira Forjaz <strong>de</strong> Sampaio, da<br />

primeira meta<strong>de</strong> do século XIX, representando<br />

a parte Norte do <strong>Jardim</strong> ainda sem as<br />

estufas.<br />

Em Outubro <strong>de</strong> 1854 foi aprovado o projecto<br />

geral da estufa, riscada pelo engenheiro<br />

francês Pedro José Pezerat, e um ano<br />

<strong>de</strong>pois já estavam concluídos os seus alicerces.<br />

Em Julho <strong>de</strong> 1857 celebrou-se com<br />

o Instituto Industrial <strong>de</strong> Lisboa o contrato<br />

para a execução da obra, tendo chegado a<br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>, em Outubro <strong>de</strong> 1859, a primeira<br />

parte da estufa. Iniciados os trabalhos da<br />

sua colocação e armação, por operários<br />

century, since it appears both in the watercolour<br />

mentioned above and in a drawing<br />

by D. Maria José Pereira Forjaz <strong>de</strong> Sampaio<br />

from the first half of the 19th century,<br />

showing the northern part of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n as<br />

yet without the greenhouses.<br />

In October 1854, the general plan for the<br />

greenhouse, sketched by the French engineer<br />

Pedro José Pezerat, was approved, and<br />

a year later, the foundations were already<br />

laid. In July 1857, a contract was celebrated<br />

with the Lisbon Industrial Institute for the<br />

execution of the work, and the first part of<br />

the greenhouse arrived in <strong>Coimbra</strong> in October<br />

of 1859. Work began on the structure,<br />

using workers specially recruited in Lisbon<br />

for the purpose, and in July 1860, most of<br />

it was already in place. However, various<br />

problems, particularly the lack of resources,<br />

<strong>de</strong>layed the completion of the works. The<br />

rest of the greenhouse was only or<strong>de</strong>red<br />

two years later, from the Massarelos Foundry<br />

in Oporto, without any alterations to<br />

the sketches and plans adopted.<br />

In 1865, the greenhouse, consisting of three<br />

sections with different temperatures and<br />

conditions, was finished and the first exotic<br />

plants started to arrive. Work then began<br />

on two smaller greenhouses, “<strong>de</strong>stined for<br />

the propagation and culture of special specimens”<br />

16 . The gar<strong>de</strong>ner Edmond Goëze from<br />

Holstein, who had worked in the gar<strong>de</strong>ns of<br />

Kew and Paris, was appointed to oversee<br />

the cultures and greenhouses in 1866.<br />

The years 1854 to 1867, un<strong>de</strong>r the curatorship<br />

of Henrique do Couto d’Almeida,<br />

saw the construction of flights of stairs on<br />

the southern si<strong>de</strong>, most of the irrigation<br />

tanks, the pilasters and railings of most of<br />

the levels of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n. In 1868, the year<br />

Antonino José Rodrigues Vidal took over<br />

as curator, the first In<strong>de</strong>x Seminum (a seed<br />

catalogue that facilitated exchanges and<br />

transfers with similar institutions) was<br />

published. In this period, the grounds of<br />

the now extinct Benedictine College were<br />

<strong>de</strong>finitively incorporated, putting an end to<br />

49


contratados em Lisboa expressamente para<br />

este fim, em Julho <strong>de</strong> 1860 estava já assente<br />

gran<strong>de</strong> parte. No entanto, dificulda<strong>de</strong>s <strong>de</strong><br />

or<strong>de</strong>m diversa, sobretudo relativas a falta<br />

<strong>de</strong> meios, atrasaram a finalização dos trabalhos.<br />

Só dois anos <strong>de</strong>pois se encomendou o<br />

resto da estufa, sem alteração dos riscos e<br />

planos adoptados, à Fábrica <strong>de</strong> Fundição <strong>de</strong><br />

Massarelos no Porto.<br />

Em 1865, a estufa, composta <strong>de</strong> três corpos<br />

<strong>de</strong> temperatura e condições distintas, estava<br />

concluída e começava a albergar as primeiras<br />

plantas exóticas. Proce<strong>de</strong>u-se seguidamente<br />

à construção <strong>de</strong> outras duas pequenas<br />

estufas, “<strong>de</strong>stinadas á multiplicação e<br />

a algumas culturas mais especiaes” 16 . Para<br />

dirigir os trabalhos <strong>de</strong> cultura das estufas foi<br />

contratado, em 1866, o jardineiro Edmond<br />

Goëze, que era natural <strong>de</strong> Holstein e havia<br />

trabalhado nos jardins <strong>de</strong> Kew e <strong>de</strong> Paris.<br />

Entre 1854 e 1867, período que correspon<strong>de</strong><br />

à direcção <strong>de</strong> Henrique do Couto<br />

d’Almeida, foram construídos os lanços <strong>de</strong><br />

escadas do lado Sul, gran<strong>de</strong> parte dos reservatórios<br />

<strong>de</strong> água para regas, as pilastras<br />

e gra<strong>de</strong>s da maioria dos planos do <strong>Jardim</strong>.<br />

Em 1868, ano em que Antonino José Rodrigues<br />

Vidal passa a chefiar os <strong>de</strong>stinos do<br />

estabelecimento, foi publicado o primeiro<br />

In<strong>de</strong>x Seminum, catálogo <strong>de</strong> sementes que<br />

tornou possível a permuta com instituições<br />

congéneres. Nesta época proce<strong>de</strong>u-se<br />

ainda à <strong>de</strong>finitiva incorporação da cerca do<br />

extinto Colégio dos beneditinos, pondo-se<br />

fim a um processo que se vinha arrastando<br />

<strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> 1836. A hoje <strong>de</strong>nominada “mata”,<br />

cujo acesso está vedado ao público, começou<br />

por esta altura a ser sistematicamente<br />

plantada, sob a direcção do jardineiro<br />

Gabriel Douverel, e a ser <strong>de</strong>sbravada pela<br />

abertura <strong>de</strong> várias ruas e atalhos <strong>de</strong>lineados<br />

por António Borges Me<strong>de</strong>iros.<br />

Em 1873 era confiada a Júlio Augusto Henriques<br />

a direcção do <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>. Abria-se, a vários níveis, um novo<br />

capítulo da história <strong>de</strong>ste <strong>Jardim</strong> que, a<br />

partir <strong>de</strong> então, afirmaria sem prece<strong>de</strong>ntes<br />

a process that had dragged out since 1836.<br />

The area of woodland and thicket known<br />

today as the mata, which is not open to the<br />

public, began to be systematically planted<br />

at this time, un<strong>de</strong>r the direction of gar<strong>de</strong>ner<br />

Gabriel Douverel, and was opened up with<br />

a number of roads and paths <strong>de</strong>signed by<br />

António Borges Me<strong>de</strong>iros.<br />

In 1873, Júlio Augusto Henriques took over<br />

as curator of the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n and a<br />

new chapter opened in its history. The scientific<br />

status of the gar<strong>de</strong>n was now confirmed<br />

in an unprece<strong>de</strong>nted way. Symbolically,<br />

the first step was to transfer the<br />

botany lessons, till then given in the Natural<br />

History Museum, to the S. Bento building;<br />

the professor also announced his support<br />

for a teaching methodology that was<br />

essentially practical in nature, something<br />

he in fact fought for his whole life. With the<br />

scanty resources available, he managed to<br />

furnish the classroom, acquire materials to<br />

use in his lessons and equip the botanical<br />

laboratory that he created. He replaced aca<strong>de</strong>mic<br />

dissertations with practical work in<br />

microscopy, comparative morphology and<br />

herborizations, encouraging the stu<strong>de</strong>nts to<br />

compile little herbariums that would contribute<br />

to the Gar<strong>de</strong>n’s own collection.<br />

Aware that “the effective teaching of botany<br />

requires not only a gar<strong>de</strong>n where the most<br />

important species can be studied, but also<br />

collections of another or<strong>de</strong>r, amongst which<br />

an important place is occupied by diverse<br />

vegetal products” 17 , he set to work organizing<br />

the museum, using at first the examples<br />

that already existed in the Museum of<br />

Natural History. His mo<strong>de</strong>l was the Royal<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>ns at Kew, which he visited in 1878,<br />

adapting it the Portuguese context and, of<br />

course, limited resources available.<br />

The museum, which was established in the<br />

old Benedictine refectory, expan<strong>de</strong>d, until<br />

by the end of the century it had spilled over<br />

into two additional rooms, a sign of the<br />

increase in the size of the collection. The<br />

cabinets were ma<strong>de</strong> of wood from differ-<br />

51


o seu estatuto científico. Simbolicamente, o<br />

primeiro passo dado pelo lente foi a transferência<br />

da aula <strong>de</strong> botânica, então leccionada<br />

no Museu <strong>de</strong> História Natural, para o<br />

edifício <strong>de</strong> S. Bento, anunciando a <strong>de</strong>fesa <strong>de</strong><br />

um ensino prático, pelo qual pugnaria toda<br />

a sua vida. Dentro dos parcos rendimentos<br />

<strong>de</strong> que dispunha, conseguiu mobilar a sala<br />

<strong>de</strong> aula, adquirir material para usar nas suas<br />

lições e para apetrechar o laboratório botânico<br />

que criou. Substituiu as dissertações<br />

académicas por trabalhos <strong>de</strong> microscopia,<br />

<strong>de</strong> morfologia comparada e por herborizações,<br />

incentivando os alunos a compilar<br />

pequenos herbários que contribuíam para a<br />

própria colecção do <strong>Jardim</strong>.<br />

Por outro lado, ciente <strong>de</strong> que “o ensino proveitoso<br />

da botanica exige, além d’um jardim<br />

on<strong>de</strong> se possam encontrar os elementos<br />

fundamentaes do seu estudo, collecções<br />

<strong>de</strong> outra or<strong>de</strong>m, <strong>entre</strong> as quaes occupa<br />

<strong>de</strong> certo logar importante a que for constituida<br />

<strong>de</strong> diversos productos fornecidos<br />

pelos vegetaes” 17 , empenhou-se em organizar<br />

o museu, aproveitando, numa primeira<br />

fase, os exemplares existentes no Museu <strong>de</strong><br />

História Natural. Uma visita, em 1878, ao<br />

acervo do <strong>Jardim</strong> Real <strong>de</strong> Kew, serviu-lhe<br />

<strong>de</strong> mo<strong>de</strong>lo, o qual procurou <strong>de</strong>pois adaptar<br />

à realida<strong>de</strong> portuguesa e, sobretudo, aos<br />

escassos meios <strong>de</strong> que dispunha.<br />

Estabelecido no antigo refeitório beneditino,<br />

o museu expandiu-se até ao fim da centúria<br />

por outras duas salas, sinal do aumento da<br />

colecção que <strong>de</strong>tinha. Os armários foram<br />

feitos <strong>de</strong> ma<strong>de</strong>iras provenientes <strong>de</strong> várias<br />

colónias portuguesas, <strong>de</strong>signadamente <strong>de</strong> S.<br />

Tomé, Angola, Moçambique e Índia, constituindo<br />

“por si já parte do mesmo museu” 18 .<br />

Na esteira <strong>de</strong> uma museologia hoje <strong>de</strong>nominada<br />

«tradicional», pretendia-se reunir<br />

no mesmo espaço, <strong>de</strong> acordo com o âmbito<br />

do museu, “a maior copia <strong>de</strong> objectos”, não<br />

obstante a preocupação em “dispor e or<strong>de</strong>nar<br />

esses objectos <strong>de</strong> modo que o todo<br />

cause boa impressão ao visitante, porque<br />

então o exame das partes será feito com<br />

52<br />

ent Portuguese colonies, such as S. Tomé,<br />

Angola, Mozambique and India, and as such<br />

“were themselves part of the museum” 18 .<br />

Following a museological policy which today<br />

would be called “traditional”, the aim was<br />

to collect together in the same space “the<br />

largest copy of objects”, <strong>de</strong>spite the concern<br />

with “organizing and or<strong>de</strong>ring those objects<br />

in such a way as to make a good impression<br />

on the visitor, so that more attention will be<br />

given to examining the parts” 19 .<br />

In 1880, Júlio Henriques foun<strong>de</strong>d the Broterian<br />

Society to further the acquisition and<br />

exchange of plants with different places<br />

in the country, and its first bulletin was<br />

published in 1883. The library, which was<br />

located in the room before the herbarium,<br />

was enriched by an exchange scheme<br />

established with numerous foreign journals<br />

and publications. The herbarium too,<br />

laid out in the former sacristy of the College<br />

of S. Bento and co-directed by Joaquim<br />

<strong>de</strong> Mariz, an assistant naturalist, was given<br />

an important impulse, immediately evi<strong>de</strong>nt<br />

in the increase in the number of requests<br />

from other gar<strong>de</strong>ns, teaching institutions<br />

and private establishments, and in the need<br />

expressed by the curator in 1887 to construct<br />

a gallery above the main group of cabinets<br />

in or<strong>de</strong>r to accommodate the growing<br />

number of species; these had been donated,<br />

obtained by exchange or through herborizations<br />

un<strong>de</strong>rtaken in Portugal and its colonies,<br />

or were purchased, as happened with<br />

the famous herbarium collected by Heinrich<br />

Moritz Willkomm.<br />

In the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n itself, there were<br />

reforms on the scientific, aesthetic and<br />

material levels, within the constraints of<br />

the limited budget. At a time when “scientific<br />

colonization” was wi<strong>de</strong>ly supported,<br />

Júlio Henriques, assisted by his head gar<strong>de</strong>ner,<br />

Adolfo Fre<strong>de</strong>rico Moller, encouraged<br />

attempts at different cultures and<br />

sent seeds and plants (particularly cinchonas,<br />

which were consi<strong>de</strong>red to be “sources<br />

of wealth” and “medically precious for many


maior interesse e attenção” 19 .<br />

Em 1880, com vista à aquisição e troca <strong>de</strong><br />

plantas <strong>de</strong> diversos locais do país, Júlio Henriques<br />

fundou a Socieda<strong>de</strong> Broteriana, cujo<br />

primeiro boletim foi publicado em 1883.<br />

A permuta estabelecida com numerosas<br />

revistas e publicações estrangeiras permitiu<br />

enriquecer a biblioteca, situada na sala que<br />

precedia o herbário. Este, disposto na antiga<br />

sacristia do Colégio <strong>de</strong> S. Bento e co-dirigido<br />

por Joaquim <strong>de</strong> Mariz, naturalista adjunto,<br />

conheceu também um <strong>de</strong>cisivo impulso,<br />

<strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> logo patente no crescimento <strong>de</strong> solicitações<br />

por parte <strong>de</strong> outros jardins, instituições<br />

<strong>de</strong> ensino e particulares, bem como<br />

na necessida<strong>de</strong>, expressa pelo director,<br />

em 1887, <strong>de</strong> construir uma galeria sobre o<br />

corpo principal <strong>de</strong> armários para acomodar<br />

o número crescente <strong>de</strong> espécies oferecidas<br />

ou obtidas quer por troca, quer através das<br />

herborizações realizadas no país e nas colónias,<br />

quer ainda por compra, como suce<strong>de</strong>u<br />

com o famoso herbário coligido por Heinrich<br />

Moritz Willkomm.<br />

No <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong>, as reformas esten<strong>de</strong>ram-se,<br />

<strong>de</strong>ntro <strong>de</strong> um orçamento limitado,<br />

ao campo científico, estético e material.<br />

Numa altura em que ecoava a <strong>de</strong>fesa duma<br />

“colonização científica”, Júlio Henriques,<br />

auxiliado pelo jardineiro chefe, Adolfo Fre<strong>de</strong>rico<br />

Moller, promoveu o ensaio <strong>de</strong> várias<br />

culturas e o envio, para a África oci<strong>de</strong>ntal,<br />

<strong>de</strong> sementes e plantas, sobretudo cinchonas,<br />

consi<strong>de</strong>radas “fontes <strong>de</strong> riqueza” e<br />

“medicamento precioso para muitas enfermida<strong>de</strong>s”<br />

20 , nomeadamente para a malária.<br />

Crítico do seu tempo e, particularmente, do<br />

modo como era conduzida a colonização,<br />

não <strong>de</strong>ixou <strong>de</strong> sublinhar e <strong>de</strong> fazer chegar<br />

às instâncias superiores a crença <strong>de</strong> que<br />

“não necessitamos (…) <strong>de</strong> gran<strong>de</strong>s exércitos,<br />

porque a nossa nacionalida<strong>de</strong> está garantida<br />

pelas condições geraes do equilibrio<br />

europeo; mas temos necessida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> sciencia,<br />

que anime as nossas industrias, que<br />

vivifique as nossas colónias, que nos torne<br />

emfim respeitados.” 21<br />

infirmities” 20 , such as malaria) to western<br />

Africa. Critical of his times and particularly<br />

of the way colonization was conducted, he<br />

ma<strong>de</strong> sure his superiors knew his belief that<br />

“we don’t need (…) large armies, because<br />

our nationality is guaranteed by the general<br />

conditions of European equilibrium; we do,<br />

however, need science, which animates our<br />

industries, enlivens our colonies and ultimately<br />

wins us respect.” 21<br />

The central quadrangle, where the plants<br />

had long been arranged in the Linnaean<br />

or<strong>de</strong>r in concentric beds with the tank,<br />

was reconfigured to create a “geographical<br />

gar<strong>de</strong>n”, where the species were placed<br />

in such a way as to represent the different<br />

botanical regions of the earth. Thus, in 1891,<br />

the species that had occupied this space<br />

were replanted in other parts of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n,<br />

in accordance with the curator’s gui<strong>de</strong>lines.<br />

The trays immediately above this level were<br />

also modified, receiving ornamental plants<br />

that would therefore frame the roads and<br />

avenues. On the remaining terraces and on<br />

the terrain near the “Avenue of Lin<strong>de</strong>ns”,<br />

they were distributed according to natural<br />

families.<br />

As well as sporadic improvements to the<br />

plumbing and greenhouse heating system,<br />

and the repainting of the railings and large<br />

greenhouse, there were also some more<br />

significant changes. Two new greenhouses<br />

were built: one of them, whose iron roof<br />

was finished in 1887, replaced the two ol<strong>de</strong>r<br />

ones used for orchids and reproduction;<br />

the other, raised in the area of the College<br />

grounds, was <strong>de</strong>stined for the cultivation of<br />

ferns and other plants that required a damp<br />

environment. The enclosure of the inner<br />

zones (such as in the area near the small<br />

greenhouse and on the "Avenue of Lin<strong>de</strong>ns")<br />

with stone pillars and iron railings was also<br />

completed, in 1888 and 1891 respectively.<br />

One of the most visible legacies of Júlio<br />

Henriques’ curatorship is the statue of<br />

Félix Avelar Brotero in front of the main<br />

gate to the Gar<strong>de</strong>n. This homage had first<br />

53


O quadrado central, on<strong>de</strong> as plantas haviam<br />

permanecido muito tempo dispostas pela<br />

or<strong>de</strong>m linneana em canteiros concêntricos<br />

com o tanque, foi reconfigurado, com vista<br />

a constituir um “jardim geográfico”, on<strong>de</strong><br />

as espécies fossem colocadas <strong>de</strong> forma a<br />

representar as diversas regiões botânicas<br />

da Terra. Nesse sentido, em 1891, replantaram-se<br />

em outras partes do <strong>Jardim</strong> as<br />

que ocupavam este espaço, dando início à<br />

concretização das orientações do director.<br />

Os tabuleiros imediatamente superiores a<br />

este patamar foram também modificados,<br />

recebendo plantas ornamentais que, assim,<br />

enquadravam as ruas e alamedas. Nos restantes<br />

terraços e no terreno contíguo à<br />

«avenida das Tílias», imperava a sua distribuição<br />

por famílias naturais.<br />

A par <strong>de</strong> melhoramentos pontuais ao nível<br />

da canalização das águas, do aquecimento<br />

das estufas, da repintura da gradaria do<br />

<strong>Jardim</strong> e da estufa gran<strong>de</strong>, <strong>de</strong>stacam-se<br />

algumas obras significativas. Construíramse<br />

duas estufas: uma, concluída em 1887<br />

com a colocação da sua cobertura em ferro,<br />

veio substituir as duas antigas <strong>de</strong> orquí<strong>de</strong>as<br />

e <strong>de</strong> reprodução; outra, erguida na zona<br />

da cerca, foi <strong>de</strong>stinada à cultura <strong>de</strong> fetos e<br />

outras plantas que exigissem humida<strong>de</strong>.<br />

Além disso, completou-se a cercadura,<br />

formada pelo gra<strong>de</strong>amento <strong>de</strong> ferro e por<br />

pilares <strong>de</strong> pedra, nas zonas interiores em<br />

falta, nomeadamente na área junto da<br />

estufa pequena, em 1888, e na «avenida das<br />

Tílias», finalizada em 1891.<br />

Uma das heranças mais visíveis da direcção<br />

<strong>de</strong> Júlio Henriques é a estátua <strong>de</strong> Félix Avelar<br />

Brotero, erguida em frente do portão principal<br />

do <strong>Jardim</strong>. A proposta <strong>de</strong>sta homenagem<br />

remontava a 1876; porém, só a partir<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1880 se iniciaram as diligências, nomeando-se<br />

uma comissão e abrindo-se uma<br />

subscrição com vista a angariar fundos para<br />

a sua efectivação. Definido o material (mármore)<br />

e assente que o distinto professor<br />

<strong>de</strong>veria ser representado com os hábitos<br />

académicos, encarregou-se o escultor Antó-<br />

54<br />

been proposed in 1876; however, nothing<br />

was done about it until 1880, when a<br />

committee was appointed and a fund set<br />

up to attract donations. Once it had been<br />

<strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d that the material would be marble<br />

and that the distinguished professor would<br />

be represented in his aca<strong>de</strong>mic gown, the<br />

sculptor António Soares dos Reis was commissioned<br />

to execute the statue and the<br />

architect Tomás Augusto Soller the pe<strong>de</strong>stal.<br />

The whole thing was placed in position<br />

and inaugurated on 1st April 1887.<br />

In 1918, Júlio Henriques retired. He had<br />

ma<strong>de</strong> a profound mark on the Gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />

during his four <strong>de</strong>ca<strong>de</strong>s as curator, and this<br />

was acknowledged. The avenue running<br />

parallel to the main entrance of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />

was named after him in that same year,<br />

and in April 1925, following a proposal presented<br />

to the Government by the Faculty of<br />

Sciences, a <strong>de</strong>cree was issued <strong>de</strong>termining<br />

that the <strong>Coimbra</strong> Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n and its<br />

annexes (herbariums, museum, library and<br />

laboratories) would thereafter be named<br />

the Dr. Júlio Henriques Botanical Institute.<br />

In 1918, the management of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />

passed into the hands of Luiz Wittnich Carrisso,<br />

who un<strong>de</strong>rtook the complex task of<br />

renovation. He regenerated the teaching<br />

staff, the Broterian Society, the library, herbarium<br />

and gar<strong>de</strong>n, and was also concerned<br />

with the premises of the former Benedictine<br />

building, part of which had been given<br />

over to the José Falcão High School, obliging<br />

some of the annexes to be relocated and<br />

the limited space to be managed imaginatively.<br />

As regards the gar<strong>de</strong>n, Luiz Carrisso was<br />

a<strong>de</strong>pt at reconciling the <strong>de</strong>mands of science<br />

with landscaping precepts. With the<br />

new curator, more attention was now given<br />

to the visitor, a sign that the space was no<br />

longer conceived as a place for “boys’ study”,<br />

but for the education and enjoyment of<br />

an increasingly broa<strong>de</strong>r public. As well as<br />

extending the area that was open to visitors,<br />

this period also saw the cultivation of


nio Soares dos Reis <strong>de</strong> executar a estátua e<br />

o arquitecto Tomás Augusto Soller <strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>linear<br />

o pe<strong>de</strong>stal. O conjunto foi colocado no<br />

<strong>de</strong>vido lugar e inaugurado no dia 1 <strong>de</strong> Abril<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1887.<br />

Em 1918, Júlio Henriques jubila-se. A profunda<br />

marca <strong>de</strong>ixada no estabelecimento<br />

que dirigiu durante mais <strong>de</strong> quatro décadas<br />

ser-lhe-ia reconhecida. A alameda paralela<br />

à entrada principal do <strong>Jardim</strong> receberia o<br />

seu nome nesse mesmo ano e, em Abril <strong>de</strong><br />

1925, por proposta apresentada pela Faculda<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> Ciências ao Governo, é publicado<br />

um <strong>de</strong>creto <strong>de</strong>terminando que o <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

<strong>Botânico</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong> e seus anexos – herbários,<br />

museu, biblioteca e laboratórios –<br />

passassem a <strong>de</strong>nominar-se Instituto <strong>Botânico</strong><br />

Dr. Júlio Henriques.<br />

A gerência do <strong>Jardim</strong> passaria, em 1918, para<br />

as mãos <strong>de</strong> Luiz Wittnich Carrisso. Cabia-lhe<br />

uma profunda tarefa <strong>de</strong> renovação. Impunha-se<br />

a regeneração do corpo docente, da<br />

Socieda<strong>de</strong> Broteriana, da biblioteca, do herbário<br />

e do <strong>Jardim</strong>. A estas somava-se a preocupação<br />

com as instalações no antigo edifício<br />

beneditino, dado que parte <strong>de</strong>ste fora<br />

<strong>entre</strong>gue ao Liceu José Falcão, forçando a<br />

reinstalação <strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>pendências e a gestão da<br />

falta <strong>de</strong> espaço com imaginação.<br />

No que concerne ao <strong>Jardim</strong>, Luiz Carrisso<br />

soube conciliar a exigência científica com os<br />

preceitos paisagísticos. A atenção concedida<br />

ao visitante, em progressão ao longo da<br />

história do horto botânico, <strong>de</strong>u com o novo<br />

director mais um passo, sinal da própria<br />

evolução da concepção <strong>de</strong>ste espaço,<br />

agora não apenas pensado para «estudo <strong>de</strong><br />

rapazes», mas também para a educação e<br />

a usufruição <strong>de</strong> um público cada vez mais<br />

vasto. Além <strong>de</strong> se aumentar a área visitável,<br />

proce<strong>de</strong>u-se, nesta altura, ao cultivo <strong>de</strong><br />

numerosas plantas ornamentais; criaram-se<br />

viveiros; procurou-se que as várias Escolas<br />

estivessem completas e <strong>de</strong>vidamente<br />

classificadas; ajardinou-se parte da mata<br />

e numa das suas encostas estabeleceuse,<br />

em novos mol<strong>de</strong>s, a Escola das<br />

numerous ornamental plants; the creation<br />

of nurseries; the completion and proper<br />

classification of the various sections; and<br />

the landscaping of part of the mata, with<br />

the establishment of a new-format monocotyledon<br />

bed on one of its slopes. The<br />

greenhouses were also radically improved<br />

[10], particularly as regards structure, heating<br />

and flora cultivated, and the famous<br />

Victoria amazonica was introduced into<br />

the small greenhouse.<br />

However, it was in the area of “scientific colonization”<br />

that Luiz Carrisso ma<strong>de</strong> the biggest<br />

mark, continuing and extending the<br />

work begun by his master. Un<strong>de</strong>r his guidance,<br />

the Institute’s activities were largely<br />

oriented towards the botanical exploitation<br />

of the colonies, justified as a tool of socioeconomic<br />

progress and political legitimation,<br />

but in practice exceeding all these purposes.<br />

In fact, the three expeditions to Angola (the<br />

botanical mission of 1927, the aca<strong>de</strong>mic<br />

mission of 1929 and the botanical mission<br />

of 1937) resulted not only in the collection<br />

of species that can still be seen today in the<br />

museum, herbarium and gar<strong>de</strong>n, and in the<br />

study and divulgation of Angolan plant life,<br />

but also in the production of audiovisual,<br />

written and photographic documents that<br />

are invaluable not only to botany, but also<br />

to anthropology, history and sociology.<br />

Luiz Carrisso lost his life in the Mocame<strong>de</strong>s<br />

<strong>de</strong>sert on 14th June 1937. His premature<br />

<strong>de</strong>ath left a vacuum in the running of the<br />

Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n, for the Faculty of Science<br />

regulations stipulated that the post had<br />

to be filled by a full professor. Abílio Fernan<strong>de</strong>s,<br />

a discipline of Carrisso and at that<br />

time assistant lecturer, performed the functions<br />

indirectly, while management was formally<br />

attributed to Rui Couceiro da Costa<br />

(chemistry) and José Custódio Morais (mineralogy<br />

and geology). Abílio Fernan<strong>de</strong>s only<br />

took over as curator of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n in 1942,<br />

after being appointed to the chair of botany;<br />

he occupied the post until 1974.<br />

Thus we move into what has been really the<br />

55


Monocotiledóneas. As estufas receberam<br />

também profundos melhoramentos [10],<br />

nomeadamente ao nível da estrutura, do<br />

aquecimento e da flora cultivada, tendose<br />

introduzido na estufa pequena a famosa<br />

Victoria amazonica.<br />

Contudo, foi no âmbito da «colonização<br />

científica» que Luiz Carrisso <strong>de</strong>ixou o cunho<br />

mais forte da sua acção e personalida<strong>de</strong>,<br />

prolongando e ampliando o testemunho<br />

do seu mestre. Gran<strong>de</strong> parte da activida<strong>de</strong><br />

do Instituto foi, sob a sua orientação,<br />

direccionada para a exploração botânica das<br />

colónias, justificada como instrumento <strong>de</strong><br />

progresso socio-económico e legitimação<br />

política, e posta em prática extravasando<br />

todos estes os propósitos. Com efeito, as três<br />

expedições organizadas rumo a Angola –<br />

missão botânica <strong>de</strong> 1927, missão académica<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1929 e missão botânica <strong>de</strong> 1937 – não se<br />

saldaram apenas pela recolha <strong>de</strong> espécies<br />

56<br />

last phase of the construction of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />

that we know today. This was a period of<br />

great change as regards town planning<br />

and architecture un<strong>de</strong>r the Estado Novo.<br />

From the beginning of the 1940s, plans<br />

were drawn up for the high part of <strong>Coimbra</strong>,<br />

involving the transformation of existing<br />

spaces and construction of new buildings<br />

from scratch; no mention was ma<strong>de</strong> of<br />

the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n in the general plan for<br />

the university campus, and <strong>de</strong>spite the fact<br />

that it formally excee<strong>de</strong>d the remit of the<br />

Administrative Committee for the Works<br />

Planning of <strong>Coimbra</strong> University Campus<br />

(CAPOCUC), the possibility of improving it<br />

was broached early on.<br />

The first studies in this regard were un<strong>de</strong>rtaken<br />

in the aca<strong>de</strong>mic year of 1943-44 and<br />

quickly won the support of the Botanical<br />

Institute, which invested in CAPOCUC<br />

its hopes of finally obtaining the financial


hoje passíveis <strong>de</strong> serem observadas no<br />

museu, herbário e <strong>Jardim</strong>, ou pelo estudo<br />

e divulgação da fitodiversida<strong>de</strong> angolana.<br />

Delas resultaram, também, documentos<br />

audiovisuais, escritos e fotográficos <strong>de</strong><br />

enorme valor, não apenas ao nível da<br />

botânica, mas também da antropologia, da<br />

história e da sociologia.<br />

Em pleno <strong>de</strong>serto <strong>de</strong> Moçâme<strong>de</strong>s, Luiz Carrisso<br />

per<strong>de</strong> a vida a 14 <strong>de</strong> Junho <strong>de</strong> 1937. A<br />

sua morte prematura <strong>de</strong>ixava um vazio na<br />

direcção do <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong>. Este cargo, <strong>de</strong><br />

acordo com o regulamento da Faculda<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

Ciências, tinha <strong>de</strong> ser <strong>de</strong>sempenhado por<br />

um professor catedrático. Abílio Fernan<strong>de</strong>s,<br />

discípulo <strong>de</strong> Carrisso e então docente<br />

auxiliar, <strong>de</strong>sempenharia tal função indirectamente,<br />

sendo formalmente a gerência<br />

atribuída a Rui Couceiro da Costa (química)<br />

e José Custódio Morais (mineralogia<br />

e geologia). Seria apenas em 1942 que, realizadas<br />

as provas e nomeado catedrático do<br />

grupo <strong>de</strong> botânica, Abílio Fernan<strong>de</strong>s encabeçaria<br />

a direcção do <strong>Jardim</strong>, a qual ocuparia<br />

até 1974.<br />

Entramos, assim, naquele que foi, verda<strong>de</strong>iramente,<br />

o último período construtivo do<br />

<strong>Jardim</strong> que hoje conhecemos. Esta etapa<br />

inscreve-se na profunda intervenção urbanística<br />

e arquitectónica levada a cabo pelo<br />

Estado Novo a partir do início da década <strong>de</strong><br />

quarenta na Alta <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, a qual contemplou,<br />

a par <strong>de</strong> edificações <strong>de</strong> raiz, transformações<br />

nos espaços existentes. Embora<br />

não constando do plano geral da cida<strong>de</strong><br />

universitária e formalmente ultrapassar as<br />

atribuições da Comissão Administrativa do<br />

Plano <strong>de</strong> Obras da Cida<strong>de</strong> Universitária <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> (CAPOCUC), a possibilida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

efectuar melhoramentos no <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong><br />

irrompeu <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> cedo.<br />

Os primeiros estudos arrancaram no ano<br />

lectivo <strong>de</strong> 1943-44 e <strong>de</strong>pressa granjearam<br />

o apoio do Instituto <strong>Botânico</strong> que <strong>de</strong>positou<br />

na CAPOCUC as esperanças <strong>de</strong> vir a<br />

obter, finalmente, os meios financeiros para<br />

empreen<strong>de</strong>r as reformas <strong>de</strong> que o <strong>Jardim</strong> e<br />

means to implement the reforms that were<br />

so nee<strong>de</strong>d in the gar<strong>de</strong>n and facilities of the<br />

former St Bento College. Abílio Fernan<strong>de</strong>s’<br />

negotiating skills and above all, the relationship<br />

of trust which he seemed to have<br />

established with the director-<strong>de</strong>legate of<br />

the Committee, the engineer Manuel <strong>de</strong> Sá<br />

e Mello, smoothed the way for his requests<br />

and suggestions.<br />

The “works of refurbishment and embellishment”,<br />

as they were <strong>de</strong>fined by the CAPO-<br />

CUC, were carried out mostly between<br />

1944 and 1950 22 . They began with the<br />

installation of central heating in the tropical<br />

plant greenhouses, the arborization of the<br />

mata and the opening up of roadways. Also<br />

in 1944, Cottinelli Telmo, head architect of<br />

the Committee between 1941 and 1948,<br />

<strong>de</strong>signed stone benches for the Gar<strong>de</strong>n and<br />

planned how they would be positioned.<br />

Six backless double benches were arranged<br />

around the statue of Brotero and twenty<br />

eight simple ones were distributed around<br />

the rest of the gar<strong>de</strong>n. An or<strong>de</strong>r was also<br />

ma<strong>de</strong> for fifty woo<strong>de</strong>n benches and, in<br />

1951, a further twelve stone ones, i<strong>de</strong>ntical<br />

to those already in existence, were or<strong>de</strong>red.<br />

The year 1945 was dominated by the launch<br />

of two important projects: the remo<strong>de</strong>lling<br />

of the central quadrangle and the construction<br />

of the cold greenhouse. The former,<br />

<strong>de</strong>signed by Cottinelli Telmo and Armand<br />

Van Bellinghen, gar<strong>de</strong>ner of the Lisbon<br />

City Council hired in 1944, was justified by<br />

the fact that, according to the authors, the<br />

gar<strong>de</strong>n “has a beautiful geometric shape,<br />

but it is flat, without relief (…) and being<br />

largely <strong>de</strong>corated with seasonal flowers,<br />

cannot permanently retain a <strong>de</strong>sirable <strong>de</strong>corative<br />

appearance, which also brings problems<br />

and costs for conservation”.<br />

The solution proposed [11] consisted<br />

firstly in “surrounding all beds with boxwood<br />

hedges, <strong>de</strong>scending in height from<br />

the c<strong>entre</strong>”; these, being easy to look after,<br />

would give “the gar<strong>de</strong>n a dignity appropriate<br />

to its gran<strong>de</strong>ur and broad vistas”. With<br />

57


as instalações no antigo Colégio <strong>de</strong> S. Bento<br />

careciam. A capacida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> negociação <strong>de</strong><br />

Abílio Fernan<strong>de</strong>s com os técnicos responsáveis<br />

e, sobretudo, a confiança que parece<br />

ter estabelecido com Manuel <strong>de</strong> Sá e Mello,<br />

engenheiro director-<strong>de</strong>legado da Comissão,<br />

facilitaram o acolhimento dos seus pedidos<br />

e sugestões.<br />

“Obras <strong>de</strong> arranjo e aformoseamento”,<br />

como as <strong>de</strong>finiu a CAPOCUC, centraramse,<br />

essencialmente, no que diz respeito ao<br />

<strong>Jardim</strong>, <strong>entre</strong> 1944 e 1950 22 . Principiaram<br />

com a instalação <strong>de</strong> aquecimento central<br />

nas estufas <strong>de</strong> plantas tropicais, a arborização<br />

da mata e a abertura <strong>de</strong> arruamentos.<br />

Ainda no ano <strong>de</strong> 1944, Cottinelli Telmo,<br />

arquitecto-chefe da Comissão <strong>entre</strong> 1941 e<br />

1948, se <strong>de</strong>teve a <strong>de</strong>senhar bancos <strong>de</strong> pedra<br />

para o <strong>Jardim</strong> e a planear o seu posicionamento.<br />

Foram dispostos seis duplos sem<br />

costas ao redor da estátua <strong>de</strong> Brotero e<br />

vinte e oito simples pelo restante <strong>Jardim</strong>. A<br />

este número se juntou uma encomenda <strong>de</strong><br />

cinquenta bancos com réguas <strong>de</strong> ma<strong>de</strong>ira<br />

e, em 1951, o fornecimento <strong>de</strong> mais doze<br />

bancos <strong>de</strong> pedra iguais aos existentes.<br />

O ano <strong>de</strong> 1945 surge dominado pelo arranque<br />

<strong>de</strong> duas obras fundamentais: a remo<strong>de</strong>lação<br />

do quadrado central e a construção<br />

da estufa fria. A primeira, i<strong>de</strong>alizada por<br />

Cottinelli Telmo e por Armand Van Bellinghen,<br />

jardineiro da Câmara Municipal <strong>de</strong><br />

Lisboa contratado em 1944, justificavase,<br />

no enten<strong>de</strong>r dos autores, “porque é um<br />

jardim com um belo traçado geométrico,<br />

sim, mas que se apresenta chato, sem relevo<br />

(…) e porque sendo na sua maior parte<br />

guarnecido por flores <strong>de</strong> estação não po<strong>de</strong><br />

manter permanentemente aquele aspecto<br />

<strong>de</strong>corativo que seria <strong>de</strong>sejar, acarretando a<br />

sua conservação, ao mesmo tempo, dificulda<strong>de</strong>s<br />

e <strong>de</strong>spesas”.<br />

A solução proposta [11] consistia em, primeiramente,<br />

“ro<strong>de</strong>ar todos os canteiros<br />

com sebes <strong>de</strong> buxo, <strong>de</strong> altura <strong>de</strong>crescente<br />

a partir do centro”, que, sendo <strong>de</strong> fácil conservação,<br />

dariam “ao jardim uma dignida<strong>de</strong><br />

58<br />

this layout, “an observer standing near the<br />

lake would, without losing his overview of<br />

the whole, find himself in a more intimate<br />

first zone, limited by higher hedges and<br />

boxwood pyramids instead of a flat open<br />

space, <strong>de</strong>corated with flowering shrubs and<br />

bushes in accordance with the flavour of<br />

the occasion and fantasy of gar<strong>de</strong>ners – and<br />

when standing at the edge, he would have<br />

a view of the amphitheatre of hedges that<br />

would soften the negative effects of the<br />

digging un<strong>de</strong>rtaken to replace the species”.<br />

Secondly, they would create “large areas of<br />

lawn and bright flowers”. Thirdly, they would<br />

place “a statue, with its respective pe<strong>de</strong>stal,<br />

in the lake in the c<strong>entre</strong>”. Finally, they would<br />

lower the height of the bor<strong>de</strong>r around the<br />

beds and create “a curtain of climbing roses”<br />

to “give interest to the periphery” 23 .<br />

The project, which was approved by the<br />

director of the Botanical Institute in the<br />

same year, was only completely implemented<br />

in April 1949 with the construction<br />

of the monumental fountain, in Outil stone,<br />

on the existing tank. The fountain [12] was,<br />

we believe, <strong>de</strong>signed by the architect Álvaro<br />

da Fonseca, since he had been commissioned<br />

for the task and the sketch seems to<br />

show his monogram (the letters A, V and F<br />

entwined) in the bottom right hand corner.<br />

The cold greenhouse was planned by Cottinelli<br />

Telmo in the shape of a trapezium,<br />

with a series of pillars and beams in reinforced<br />

concrete forming “the skeleton of<br />

a box, with the walls and roof covered in<br />

woo<strong>de</strong>n latticework through which the air<br />

could circulate and the sunlight filter in”. To<br />

implement it “in accordance with the Curator’s<br />

wishes”, they chose “an almost treeless<br />

area of thicket near the support wall<br />

of the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n opposite the main<br />

entrance, in the wall that serves the back of<br />

the Greenhouse”. As regards the aesthetic<br />

appearance of the exterior, the architect<br />

favoured a “picturesque” approach in tune<br />

with the place, reflected particularly in the<br />

materials used. As well as the wood that


em relação com a sua gran<strong>de</strong>za e com o seu<br />

rasgado traçado”. Com esta disposição, “o<br />

observador colocado junto do lago encontrar-se-ia,<br />

sem per<strong>de</strong>r o abrangimento visual<br />

do conjunto, numa primeira zona mais<br />

íntima, limitada pelas sebes mais altas e respectivas<br />

pirâmi<strong>de</strong>s talhadas no buxo, em<br />

vez <strong>de</strong> ter diante <strong>de</strong> si um campo raso, guarnecido<br />

<strong>de</strong> maciços <strong>de</strong> flores e arbustos ao<br />

sabor da ocasião e da fantasia dos jardineiros<br />

– e, quando colocado na periferia – teria<br />

a visão do anfiteatro <strong>de</strong> sebes que atenuaria<br />

o mau efeito das cavas para substituição<br />

<strong>de</strong> espécies”. Em segundo lugar, criar-se-iam<br />

“gran<strong>de</strong>s zonas <strong>de</strong> relva e flores vivazes”. Em<br />

terceiro lugar, colocar-se-ia “uma estátua –<br />

lined the “box”, they also ad<strong>de</strong>d “irregular<br />

slabs of stone, with roughly hewn surfaces”<br />

used for the sills, steps and walls 24 .<br />

The contracts were awar<strong>de</strong>d in 1945 and<br />

must have been near conclusion by the end<br />

of the following year since, in June 1946, an<br />

invitation to ten<strong>de</strong>r was issued for a complementary<br />

construction, namely the bridge<br />

connecting the gar<strong>de</strong>n with the mata. The<br />

project, which was also signed by Cottinelli,<br />

involved rebuilding in a new style the old<br />

bridge that connected the western si<strong>de</strong> of<br />

the central quadrangle to the arboretum,<br />

while also improving the spot by “‘disciplining’<br />

what is presently no more than a plot of<br />

land with haphazard relief and a few foot-


e respectivo pe<strong>de</strong>stal – no lago do centro”.<br />

Finalmente, reduzir-se-ia a altura excessiva<br />

do lancil que contorna os canteiros e “uma<br />

cortina <strong>de</strong> roseiras trepa<strong>de</strong>iras contribuiria<br />

para dar interesse à parte periférica” 23 .<br />

Aprovado no mesmo ano pelo director do<br />

Instituto <strong>Botânico</strong>, o projecto só seria totalmente<br />

concretizado em Abril <strong>de</strong> 1949, com<br />

a colocação da fonte monumental, em<br />

pedra <strong>de</strong> Outil, sobre o tanque já existente.<br />

O <strong>de</strong>senho da fonte [12] foi, julgamos, elaborado<br />

por Álvaro da Fonseca, pois sabe-se<br />

que este arquitecto fora encarregado <strong>de</strong> a<br />

riscar e o próprio <strong>de</strong>buxo parece apresentar<br />

o seu monograma (<strong>entre</strong>laçamento das<br />

letras A, V e F) no canto inferior direito.<br />

A estufa fria foi projectada por Cottinelli<br />

Telmo como um trapézio composto por<br />

uma série <strong>de</strong> pilares e vigas <strong>de</strong> betão armado<br />

que constituíam “o esqueleto <strong>de</strong> uma caixa<br />

cujas pare<strong>de</strong>s e cobertura são fechados por<br />

ripado <strong>de</strong> ma<strong>de</strong>ira por on<strong>de</strong> circula o ar e a<br />

luz do sol entra coada pelos intervalos <strong>entre</strong><br />

as ripas”. Para a sua implantação, escolheuse,<br />

“<strong>de</strong> acordo com o Exmo. Director”, “uma<br />

zona <strong>de</strong> terreno da mata, quase sem árvores,<br />

junto do muro <strong>de</strong> suporte do <strong>Jardim</strong> Botâ-<br />

60<br />

paths”.<br />

“So that the work planned is not simply<br />

utilitarian but also takes account of aesthetics,<br />

without losing sight of the economic<br />

aspect”, the architect <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d to<br />

embellish the reinforced concrete structure<br />

with ashlar masonry, trying to make<br />

the new construction tone in with the gateway<br />

into the Gar<strong>de</strong>n. He also used rough<br />

coursed masonry in the coping of the walls<br />

and balustra<strong>de</strong>s of the staircase and steps.<br />

The whole thing was finished in September<br />

1948 with the fitting of the bridge railings 25 .<br />

In 1949, the finishing touches were put on<br />

six brick turrets with reinforced concrete<br />

roofs and woo<strong>de</strong>n doors <strong>de</strong>signed for provi<strong>de</strong><br />

shelter for the guards of the mata, and<br />

also on the head gar<strong>de</strong>ner’s house, which<br />

had been altered to reflect the mo<strong>de</strong>l of<br />

the “Portuguese house” using a collage of<br />

formal and <strong>de</strong>corative elements characteristic<br />

of traditionalist eclecticism. In addition,<br />

other smaller buildings were scattered<br />

around the gar<strong>de</strong>n and wood: public toilets,<br />

staff outhouses, tanks for fertilizer, toolhouses,<br />

greenhouses and cold frames.<br />

As regards <strong>de</strong>coration, CAPOCUC applied<br />

the same policy here as in the much larger<br />

buildings constructed on the University<br />

hill. Sculpture was used to dignify the space<br />

and indoctrinate visitors, both as a tribute<br />

to notable figures and as allegory of knowledge.<br />

The first statue to be planned for the<br />

gar<strong>de</strong>n was of Júlio Henriques. The contract<br />

for its execution was celebrated in August<br />

1944 with Salvador Barata Feyo, although<br />

it was only actually installed in 1950, opposite<br />

the eastern faça<strong>de</strong> of the old Benedictine<br />

college.<br />

In July 1946, the sculptor Joaquim Martins<br />

Correia was contracted to make an<br />

allegorical statue to botany in plaster. This<br />

was finished in 1948 but was only transferred<br />

into stone in 1949, the year when<br />

discussions were held as to where to put it,<br />

eventually opting for the cold greenhouse.<br />

Finally, between April and September 1948,


nico que se opõe à entrada principal <strong>de</strong>ste,<br />

muro que serve <strong>de</strong> fundo à Estufa”. Relativamente<br />

à linguagem estética do exterior,<br />

o arquitecto procurou favorecer, em consonância<br />

com o local, “o aspecto pitoresco”,<br />

traduzindo-o sobretudo ao nível dos materiais.<br />

À ma<strong>de</strong>ira que forrava a “caixa”, acresciam<br />

as “lajes irregulares, <strong>de</strong> superfícies <strong>de</strong>sbastadas<br />

grosseiramente” empregues nas<br />

soleiras, <strong>de</strong>graus, muretes e muros 24 .<br />

Adjudicados os trabalhos em 1945, <strong>de</strong>veriam<br />

estar perto da conclusão no fim do<br />

ano seguinte pois, em Junho <strong>de</strong> 1946, era<br />

aberto o concurso para uma construção<br />

complementar a esta: a ponte <strong>de</strong> ligação<br />

do <strong>Jardim</strong> com a mata. O projecto, assinado<br />

igualmente por Cottinelli, visava reconstituir,<br />

em novos mol<strong>de</strong>s, a antiga ponte que<br />

ligava o lado oeste do quadrado central<br />

ao arboreto, melhorando-se, simultaneamente,<br />

este local, “«disciplinando» aquilo<br />

que actualmente não é senão um terreno<br />

com uma orografia <strong>de</strong> acaso e com caminhos<br />

<strong>de</strong> pé posto”.<br />

“Para que a obra projectada se não resumisse<br />

à sua função utilitária mas «juntasse»<br />

a utilida<strong>de</strong> à estética, sem per<strong>de</strong>r <strong>de</strong> vista<br />

o aspecto económico”, o autor optou por<br />

enobrecer a estrutura <strong>de</strong> betão armado com<br />

a utilização <strong>de</strong> cantaria aparelhada, procurando<br />

assim que a nova construção não<br />

<strong>de</strong>stoasse da própria moldura do portal do<br />

<strong>Jardim</strong>, e com o emprego <strong>de</strong> pedra <strong>de</strong> aparelho<br />

grosseiro no capeamento dos muretes,<br />

guardas <strong>de</strong> escada e <strong>de</strong>graus. O conjunto foi<br />

terminado em Setembro <strong>de</strong> 1948 com a instalação<br />

do gra<strong>de</strong>amento da ponte 25 .<br />

Em 1949 foram finalizadas a edificação<br />

<strong>de</strong> seis guaritas em tijolo com cobertura<br />

<strong>de</strong> betão armado e porta <strong>de</strong> ma<strong>de</strong>ira para<br />

abrigo dos guardas da mata, bem como a<br />

reforma da casa do chefe dos jardineiros,<br />

on<strong>de</strong> se afirmou o mo<strong>de</strong>lo da «casa portuguesa»<br />

através <strong>de</strong> uma «colagem» <strong>de</strong> elementos<br />

formais e <strong>de</strong>corativos característicos<br />

do eclectismo tradicionalista. Além<br />

<strong>de</strong>stas, outras construções <strong>de</strong> menor enver-<br />

the sculptor José Pereira dos Santos ma<strong>de</strong><br />

a bronze medallion with a portrait of Luiz<br />

Carrisso to crown the corner opposite the<br />

D. Maria gateway, which had a small tank<br />

where we can still see today a number of<br />

<strong>de</strong>signed pieces, though unsigned and<br />

undated.<br />

Other miscellaneous improvements completed<br />

the general effect that was <strong>de</strong>sired<br />

for the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n and got rid of the<br />

blemishes left by time “so that the whole<br />

thing would be more harmonious” 26 . The<br />

stone steps of the main staircase of the<br />

gar<strong>de</strong>n were replaced, and the railings,<br />

gates and masonry of the steps of the central<br />

quadrangle were restored; a wall was<br />

built alongsi<strong>de</strong> the Arch of Betrayal; name<br />

plates were attributed to plants in the different<br />

areas, and consi<strong>de</strong>ration was given to<br />

the suggestion of installing grandiose lighting<br />

in the mata.<br />

As regards the flora, as well as replacing and<br />

fertilizing the earth in the flowerbeds, new<br />

species were introduced which till then had<br />

not existed in the collections. While it is not<br />

surprising that examples should have come<br />

from the colonies and Brazil, it is interesting<br />

to note the naturalness with which CAPO-<br />

CUC also managed to establish contacts<br />

with horticulturalists and botanical gar<strong>de</strong>ns<br />

throughout Europe, with a view to acquiring<br />

plants for <strong>Coimbra</strong>, at a time when the<br />

old continent was embroiled in the Second<br />

World War.<br />

The irrigation system in the Botanical<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n was one of the aspects that most<br />

motivated Abílio Fernan<strong>de</strong>s to continue<br />

his appeal for state support. By 1944, it had<br />

been generally acknowledged that the existing<br />

plumbing was ina<strong>de</strong>quate and in a poor<br />

state of repair, and some improvements<br />

were ma<strong>de</strong> to the water system. However,<br />

the situation continued to worsen, as the<br />

curator of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n informed the presi<strong>de</strong>nt<br />

of CAPOCUC on 20th June 1945,<br />

owing to the expansion of the planted<br />

area, frequent drought and, particularly,<br />

61


gadura pontuaram o <strong>Jardim</strong> e a mata: instalações<br />

sanitárias, <strong>de</strong>pendências para o pessoal,<br />

<strong>de</strong>pósitos para adubos e arrecadação<br />

<strong>de</strong> ferramentas, estufas e estufins.<br />

Ao nível do programa <strong>de</strong>corativo, a CAPO-<br />

CUC não <strong>de</strong>ixou <strong>de</strong> aplicar aqui a mesma<br />

política que seguira nos gran<strong>de</strong>s volumes<br />

erguidos na Alta universitária. À escultura<br />

reservou-se o papel <strong>de</strong> enobrecer o<br />

espaço e «doutrinar» os seus utilizadores,<br />

ora enquanto tributo a «figuras notáveis»,<br />

ora enquanto alegoria do saber. A primeira<br />

estátua pensada para o <strong>Jardim</strong> foi a <strong>de</strong> Júlio<br />

Henriques. O contrato para a sua execução<br />

foi celebrado em Agosto <strong>de</strong> 1944 com Salvador<br />

Barata Feyo; porém, só em 1950 seria<br />

assente em frente à fachada Este do antigo<br />

Colégio beneditino.<br />

Em Julho <strong>de</strong> 1946, ajustou-se, com o escultor<br />

Joaquim Martins Correia, a execução em<br />

gesso <strong>de</strong> uma estátua alegórica à botânica<br />

que, concluída em 1948, só seria passada à<br />

pedra em 1949, altura em que se proce<strong>de</strong>u<br />

enfim ao estudo do sítio da sua colocação,<br />

optando-se por remetê-la para a estufa fria.<br />

Por último, <strong>entre</strong> Abril e Setembro <strong>de</strong> 1948,<br />

o escultor José Pereira dos Santos executou<br />

um medalhão em bronze com o retrato <strong>de</strong><br />

Luiz Carrisso, <strong>de</strong>stinado a coroar o recanto<br />

em frente do portal <strong>de</strong> D. Maria, dotado<br />

<strong>de</strong> um pequeno tanque, <strong>de</strong> que subsistem<br />

peças <strong>de</strong>senhadas, embora não assinadas<br />

nem datadas.<br />

Outros melhoramentos pontuais completaram<br />

o efeito geral que se pretendida conferir<br />

ao <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong>, apagando as «mazelas»<br />

que o tempo lhe havia impresso “para<br />

o conjunto ficar mais harmonioso” 26 . Substituíram-se<br />

os <strong>de</strong>graus em pedra da escadaria<br />

principal do <strong>Jardim</strong>, restaurou-se a gradaria,<br />

os portões e as cantarias das escadas<br />

do quadrado central, edificou-se o muro<br />

do lado do Arco da Traição, distribuíram-se<br />

placas i<strong>de</strong>ntificativas <strong>de</strong> plantas por diversas<br />

zonas e chegou ainda a pon<strong>de</strong>rar-se uma<br />

iluminação grandiosa da mata.<br />

No que diz respeito à flora, para além da<br />

62<br />

the obstruction of the un<strong>de</strong>rground water<br />

channels, which reduced the Gar<strong>de</strong>n’s water<br />

resources to the increasingly restricted<br />

Municipal supply.<br />

Despite odd improvements, in 1949 the situation<br />

became unsustainable as a result of<br />

the threat to cut off the water supply by the<br />

municipal services. Abílio Fernan<strong>de</strong>s managed<br />

to resist a <strong>de</strong>finitive cut, but the continuation<br />

of the drought in 1950 ultimately<br />

led him to make a new appeal to the presi<strong>de</strong>nt<br />

of CAPOCUC, urging the construction<br />

of a tank near the statue of Avelar<br />

Brotero, un<strong>de</strong>r the avenue running parallel<br />

to Avenue Júlio Henriques. The site was<br />

consi<strong>de</strong>red the most suitable for four reasons:<br />

it was the entry point for the waters<br />

from the un<strong>de</strong>rground springs; its relative<br />

height meant that it could supply most of<br />

the Gar<strong>de</strong>n; it would be simple to connect<br />

the tank to the pipes, and it could be supplied<br />

by autotanks, if there were a shortage<br />

of water from the springs.<br />

In February of the same year, the project<br />

was approved. However, the invitation to<br />

ten<strong>de</strong>r was only issued in September 1960.<br />

The tank was to be buried, as planned,<br />

between the statue of the former scholar<br />

and the main gate. This “concealment”, justified<br />

for “technical reasons”, also overcame<br />

“an architectural problem that was difficult<br />

to solve”, as <strong>de</strong>scribed in the specifications<br />

27 .<br />

The part of the former College of St Bento<br />

that housed the Botanical Institute also<br />

received attention from CAPOCUC. After<br />

consi<strong>de</strong>ring various possibilities, it was<br />

<strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d to reserve it for the Institutes<br />

of Botany and Anthropology. The work<br />

nee<strong>de</strong>d to adapt the space and divi<strong>de</strong> it<br />

between the two institutions progressed<br />

slowly with frequent interruptions, and was<br />

only properly finished in the 1970s.<br />

As regards the Botanical Institute, there was<br />

an exchange of correspon<strong>de</strong>nce in 1944 and<br />

1945 between Manuel <strong>de</strong> Sá e Mello and the<br />

Consul of Great Britain in or<strong>de</strong>r to obtain


substituição e respectiva adubação da terra<br />

dos canteiros, introduziram-se novas espécies<br />

até aí inexistentes nas colecções. Se o<br />

plantio <strong>de</strong> exemplares das várias colónias ou<br />

do Brasil não nos causa surpresa, é, porém,<br />

interessante constatar a naturalida<strong>de</strong> com<br />

que a CAPOCUC estabeleceu contactos<br />

com horticultores e vários jardins botânicos<br />

europeus com vista à aquisição <strong>de</strong> plantas<br />

para <strong>Coimbra</strong>, numa altura em que o velho<br />

continente se encontrava a braços com a<br />

Segunda Guerra Mundial.<br />

O sistema <strong>de</strong> rega do <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> constituiu<br />

um dos aspectos que mais motivou<br />

Abílio Fernan<strong>de</strong>s a continuamente apelar<br />

à intervenção estatal. Já em 1944, o reconhecimento<br />

da insuficiência e <strong>de</strong>terioração<br />

da canalização existente incentivara alguns<br />

progressos na re<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> distribuição <strong>de</strong> água.<br />

Contudo, como relatava o director do<br />

<strong>Jardim</strong> ao presi<strong>de</strong>nte da CAPOCUC em 20<br />

<strong>de</strong> Junho <strong>de</strong> 1945, a situação não <strong>de</strong>ixou <strong>de</strong><br />

se agravar, em consequência do aumento da<br />

área plantada, da ocorrência <strong>de</strong> frequentes<br />

períodos <strong>de</strong> seca e, sobretudo, da obstrução<br />

das minas <strong>de</strong> água em vários pontos, o que<br />

reduzia os recursos hídricos do <strong>Jardim</strong> ao<br />

abastecimento facultado, cada vez <strong>de</strong> forma<br />

mais restrita, pela Câmara Municipal.<br />

Apesar das melhorias pontuais, em 1949 a<br />

situação tornou-se insustentável em virtu<strong>de</strong><br />

da ameaça <strong>de</strong> suspensão da rega por<br />

parte dos Serviços Municipalizados. Abílio<br />

Fernan<strong>de</strong>s conseguiu suster o corte <strong>de</strong>finitivo,<br />

mas a prevalência da estiagem no<br />

ano <strong>de</strong> 1950 acabaria por conduzir o director<br />

a fazer uma nova exposição ao presi<strong>de</strong>nte<br />

da CAPOCUC, sugerindo a construção<br />

urgente <strong>de</strong> um <strong>de</strong>pósito junto à estátua<br />

<strong>de</strong> Avelar Brotero, <strong>de</strong>baixo da alameda que<br />

corre paralela à Avenida Júlio Henriques. O<br />

local era apontado como o mais indicado<br />

por quatro motivos: era o ponto <strong>de</strong> entrada<br />

das águas das minas; po<strong>de</strong>ria, pela sua elevação,<br />

abastecer a maior parte do <strong>Jardim</strong>; a<br />

ligação do <strong>de</strong>pósito à canalização seria simples<br />

e aquele po<strong>de</strong>ria ser abastecido por<br />

information about the facilities and organization<br />

of the Kew Botanical Institute “to<br />

be taken into consi<strong>de</strong>ration at the <strong>Coimbra</strong><br />

Botanical Institute”. Communication problems<br />

resulting from the war that was still<br />

in progress meant that contacts between<br />

CAPOCUC and London had to be ma<strong>de</strong> via<br />

the Portuguese consul in London. Through<br />

this intermediary, the curator of the Royal<br />

Botanic Gar<strong>de</strong>ns at Kew respon<strong>de</strong>d to<br />

Abílio Fernan<strong>de</strong>s’ questions and requests<br />

about the facilities in the Gar<strong>de</strong>n, its greenhouses,<br />

and the structure and disinfecting<br />

of its herbariums 28 . It is not unreasonable<br />

to suppose, then, that the refurbishment<br />

of the <strong>Coimbra</strong> Botanical gar<strong>de</strong>n was once<br />

again subject to English influence, on the<br />

scientific level.<br />

As well as a large lecture hall and offices for<br />

lecturers and researchers, two big laboratories<br />

were created for the general courses and<br />

two smaller ones for the special courses. The<br />

library, museum and herbariums were given<br />

better premises. Insi<strong>de</strong> the building, CAPO-<br />

CUC tried to recreate an old atmosphere,<br />

or<strong>de</strong>ring for the purpose some reproductions<br />

of 17th century tiles showing flowers<br />

and birds, similar to those in the Machado<br />

<strong>de</strong> Castro National Museum, which were<br />

used to line the corridors, lobbies, hall and<br />

stairs of the Institute.<br />

However, it was in the area adjacent to the<br />

Benedictine complex and the St Sebastian<br />

aqueduct that the monumentalism of<br />

the Estado Novo was most felt. Although<br />

insi<strong>de</strong> the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>ns the neoclassical<br />

gigantism of the new buildings was<br />

restrained, using instead of the traditionalist<br />

Portuguese suave (“smooth Portuguese”)<br />

style, the exterior clearly reveals the taste<br />

for gran<strong>de</strong>ur, with the glorification of the<br />

monument’s individuality and the “purging”<br />

of all animate or inanimate “excrescences”<br />

that could reduce it.<br />

In September 1958, the minister for Public<br />

Works, Eduardo <strong>de</strong> Arantes e Oliveira,<br />

<strong>de</strong>clared the urgent need to expropriate<br />

63


auto-tanques, no caso <strong>de</strong> a água das minas<br />

se tornar insuficiente.<br />

Em Fevereiro <strong>de</strong>sse mesmo ano era aprovada<br />

a organização do respectivo projecto<br />

para ser cumprido. Todavia, só em Setembro<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1960 se abriu o concurso para a sua<br />

arrematação. Ficaria enterrado, como previsto,<br />

<strong>entre</strong> a estátua do antigo lente e o<br />

portal principal. Esta “ocultação”, justificada<br />

por “razões técnicas”, <strong>de</strong>ixou também,<br />

como se lê na memória <strong>de</strong>scritiva, “<strong>de</strong> criar<br />

um problema <strong>de</strong> or<strong>de</strong>m arquitectónica <strong>de</strong><br />

ingrata solução” 27 .<br />

O antigo Colégio <strong>de</strong> S. Bento, em parte do<br />

qual se encontrava já o Instituto <strong>Botânico</strong>,<br />

recebeu igualmente a atenção da CAPO-<br />

CUC que, <strong>de</strong>pois da pon<strong>de</strong>ração <strong>de</strong> várias<br />

hipóteses, acabou por o reservar para os Institutos<br />

<strong>de</strong> Botânica e Antropologia. As obras<br />

<strong>de</strong> adaptação e <strong>de</strong> repartição do espaço por<br />

ambos os estabelecimentos foram lentas<br />

e por inúmeras vezes interrompidas, atingindo<br />

o seu termo já na década <strong>de</strong> sessenta.<br />

No que concerne ao Instituto <strong>de</strong> Botânica, a<br />

documentação consultada revela a troca <strong>de</strong><br />

correspondência, nos anos <strong>de</strong> 1944 e 1945,<br />

<strong>entre</strong> Manuel <strong>de</strong> Sá e Mello e o Cônsul da<br />

Grã-Bretanha, com vista a obter referências<br />

acerca das instalações e organização do Instituto<br />

<strong>Botânico</strong> <strong>de</strong> Kew “para serem tomadas<br />

em consi<strong>de</strong>ração no Instituto <strong>Botânico</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>”. As dificulda<strong>de</strong>s <strong>de</strong> comunicação,<br />

oriundas do confronto bélico em<br />

<strong>de</strong>curso, acabaram por <strong>de</strong>terminar que os<br />

contactos <strong>entre</strong> a CAPOCUC e Londres<br />

se fizessem através do Cônsul <strong>de</strong> Portugal<br />

nessa cida<strong>de</strong>. Por intermédio <strong>de</strong>ste, o director<br />

do Royal Botanic Gar<strong>de</strong>ns <strong>de</strong> Kew aten<strong>de</strong>u<br />

às solicitações <strong>de</strong> Abílio Fernan<strong>de</strong>s,<br />

interessado em receber informações sobre<br />

as instalações daquele <strong>Jardim</strong>, das suas estufas<br />

e da estruturação dos seus herbários e<br />

respectiva <strong>de</strong>sinfecção 28 . Consequentemente,<br />

torna-se plausível pressupor a influência<br />

inglesa, ao nível científico, na remo<strong>de</strong>lação<br />

do Instituto <strong>Botânico</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>.<br />

Além <strong>de</strong> um anfiteatro e <strong>de</strong> gabinetes para<br />

64<br />

a series of buildings backing onto the St<br />

Sebastian aqueduct as part of the project<br />

to provi<strong>de</strong> access areas to the University<br />

campus, approved in August of that year.<br />

The <strong>de</strong>molition of the houses built into the<br />

arches began at the end of 1959. The <strong>de</strong>sire<br />

to clear away the space in front of the College<br />

and aqueduct to isolate them and display<br />

them in all their “purity” also led to the<br />

felling of the trees that obstructed their<br />

view. Ironically, this also coinci<strong>de</strong>d with the<br />

<strong>de</strong>molition in 1959 of the last arch of the<br />

aqueduct, which had for <strong>de</strong>ca<strong>de</strong>s been consi<strong>de</strong>red<br />

a national monument, in or<strong>de</strong>r to<br />

link Martim <strong>de</strong> Freitas Street with the road<br />

that went around the Faculty of Science<br />

buildings.<br />

After the completion of the improvements<br />

to the Botanical Institute and the extinction<br />

of CAPOCUC in 1969, the Gar<strong>de</strong>n did not<br />

un<strong>de</strong>rgo any further serous intervention<br />

until the end of Abílio Fernan<strong>de</strong>s’ period<br />

as curator, in 1974, the year of the “carnation<br />

revolution”. The <strong>de</strong>mocratization of<br />

Portuguese society and of the University as<br />

an institution will also have had an impact<br />

upon the strategies and objectives of the<br />

establishment. Today, as always, the conservation<br />

and rehabilitation of the cultural and<br />

natural heritage <strong>de</strong>pend upon political and<br />

i<strong>de</strong>ological <strong>de</strong>cisions, the financial resources<br />

available and social pressures. <strong>Coimbra</strong>’s<br />

Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n has not escaped this web<br />

of influences, nor will it in future; thus it<br />

constitutes a space par excellence for the<br />

confrontation and conciliation of the various<br />

synergies that affect our heritage.<br />

This survey of the Gar<strong>de</strong>n’s evolution reveals<br />

that it has <strong>de</strong>veloped out of a counterpoint<br />

between Art and Science and represents a<br />

compromise between what was dreamt and<br />

what was achievable, what was <strong>de</strong>sired and<br />

what was possible. It bears traces of the Italian<br />

and English influences that characterized<br />

Portugal in the Pombaline era, the economic<br />

and political vicissitu<strong>de</strong>s of the 19 th<br />

century, and the various nationalisms that


professores e investigadores, criaram-se<br />

dois gran<strong>de</strong>s laboratórios para os cursos<br />

gerais e dois mais pequenos para os cursos<br />

especiais. Instalaram-se, por seu turno, condignamente,<br />

a biblioteca, o museu e os herbários.<br />

No interior do edifício, a CAPOCUC<br />

procurou recriar uma ambiência antiga,<br />

encomendando, nesse sentido, a reprodução<br />

<strong>de</strong> azulejos seiscentistas com flores e<br />

pássaros, semelhantes aos existentes no<br />

Museu Nacional <strong>de</strong> Machado <strong>de</strong> Castro,<br />

que passaram a cobrir os corredores, vestíbulos,<br />

átrios e escadas do Instituto.<br />

Contudo, foi na zona adjacente ao complexo<br />

beneditino e ao aqueduto <strong>de</strong> S. Sebastião<br />

que a acção monumentalizadora do<br />

Estado Novo mais se fez sentir. Se no interior<br />

do <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> se refreou o gigantismo<br />

neoclássico patente nas novos imóveis<br />

erguidos, optando-se antes por um<br />

«português suave» <strong>de</strong> cunho tradicionalista;<br />

no exterior, afirmou-se, claramente, a<br />

busca <strong>de</strong> uma perspectiva grandiosa, exaltadora<br />

da individualida<strong>de</strong> do monumento<br />

e, por conseguinte, «expurgadora» <strong>de</strong> todas<br />

as «excrescências» animadas ou inanimadas<br />

que a pu<strong>de</strong>ssem diminuir.<br />

Em Setembro <strong>de</strong> 1958, o ministro das Obras<br />

Públicas, Eduardo <strong>de</strong> Arantes e Oliveira,<br />

<strong>de</strong>clarava a urgência em expropriar uma<br />

série <strong>de</strong> prédios adossados ao aqueduto <strong>de</strong><br />

S. Sebastião, <strong>de</strong> acordo com o projecto das<br />

zonas <strong>de</strong> acesso à cida<strong>de</strong> universitária <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>, aprovado em Agosto <strong>de</strong>sse ano.<br />

A <strong>de</strong>molição do casario «incrustado» nos<br />

arcos iniciou-se em finais <strong>de</strong> 1959. O intuito<br />

<strong>de</strong> «<strong>de</strong>safrontar» o Colégio e o aqueduto,<br />

isolando-os e exibindo-os na sua «pureza»,<br />

ditou também o corte do arvoredo que<br />

«obstruía» a sua vista. Ironicamente, a<br />

assepsia instaurada coexistiu com a <strong>de</strong>molição,<br />

em 1958, do último arco do aqueduto,<br />

há décadas consi<strong>de</strong>rado monumento<br />

nacional, em prol da conciliação topográfica<br />

<strong>entre</strong> as Ruas Martim <strong>de</strong> Freitas e a<br />

que circunda os edifícios da Faculda<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

Ciências.<br />

marked the 20 th . As a living witness to all<br />

that, it can best be appreciated, as always,<br />

with knowledge of the circumstances that<br />

contributed to making it what it is today.<br />

1 Fernando Taveira da Fonseca, “O <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

<strong>Botânico</strong> no contexto da Reforma Pombalina<br />

da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong> (1772)”, paper presented<br />

at the conference O Século das Luzes:<br />

Portugal, Brasil e região do Rio Prata, (Berlin,<br />

19th to 24th May 2003).<br />

2 Estatutos da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong> (1772),<br />

vol. III, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, <strong>Coimbra</strong> University, 1972, p.<br />

266-267.<br />

3 Manuel Lopes <strong>de</strong> Almeida, Documentos da<br />

reforma pombalina, [Doc. XXXIV. 7th November<br />

1772. Letter from the Marquis of Pombal to<br />

D. Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos], vol. I, 1771-1782, <strong>Coimbra</strong>,<br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> University, 1937, p. 52-53.<br />

4 Letter from Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos to the Marquis<br />

of Pombal, dated 3rd February 1773. Quoted by<br />

Teófilo Braga, Historia da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong><br />

nas suas relações com a instrucção publica<br />

portugueza, vol. III, 1700-1800, Lisbon, Royal<br />

Aca<strong>de</strong>my of Sciences, 1898, p. 470.<br />

5 Manuel Lopes <strong>de</strong> Almeida, Documentos da<br />

reforma pombalina, [Doc. XLIV. 12th February<br />

1773. On the arrival of the machines and instruments<br />

for Physics and the <strong>de</strong>marcation of the<br />

Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n], vol. I, 1771-1782, p. 69.<br />

6 Letter from Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos to the Marquis<br />

of Pombal, dated 3rd February 1773. Quoted by<br />

Teófilo Braga, Historia da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong><br />

nas suas relações com a instrucção publica<br />

portugueza, vol. III, 1700-1800, p. 479-480.<br />

7 Teófilo Braga, Historia da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> nas suas relações com a instrucção<br />

publica portugueza, vol. III, 1700-1800, p. 477.<br />

8 Teófilo Braga, Historia da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> nas suas relações com a instrucção<br />

publica portugueza, vol. III, 1700-1800, p. 476.<br />

9 Manuel Lopes <strong>de</strong> Almeida, Documentos da<br />

reforma pombalina, [Doc. LXV. 5th October<br />

1773. Document about the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n],<br />

vol. I, 1771-1782, p. 104.<br />

10 Manuel Lopes <strong>de</strong> Almeida, Documentos da<br />

reforma pombalina, [Doc. LXV. 5th October<br />

1773. Document on the Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n], vol.<br />

I, 1771-1782, p. 105.<br />

65


Realizada a campanha <strong>de</strong> melhoramentos<br />

no Instituto <strong>Botânico</strong> e extinta a CAPO-<br />

CUC em 1969, o <strong>Jardim</strong> não voltou a ser<br />

objecto <strong>de</strong> uma séria intervenção até ao<br />

fim da direcção <strong>de</strong> Abílio Fernan<strong>de</strong>s, a qual<br />

culminou, precisamente, no mesmo ano da<br />

«revolução dos cravos». A <strong>de</strong>mocratização<br />

da socieda<strong>de</strong> portuguesa e, por conseguinte,<br />

da instituição universitária conimbricense,<br />

não <strong>de</strong>ixou, julgamos, <strong>de</strong> ter um<br />

impacto no campo das estratégias e objectivos<br />

<strong>de</strong>ste estabelecimento. Hoje, tal como<br />

<strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> sempre, a salvaguarda e a requalificação<br />

da herança cultural e natural <strong>de</strong>senvolvem-se<br />

a reboque das opções políticas e<br />

i<strong>de</strong>ológicas, das disponibilida<strong>de</strong>s financeiras<br />

e das pressões sociais. O <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> não escapou, nem escapa, a esta<br />

teia <strong>de</strong> cumplicida<strong>de</strong>s, constituindo, por<br />

excelência, um espaço <strong>de</strong> confronto e conciliação<br />

das sinergias que concorrem para a<br />

mo<strong>de</strong>lagem do património.<br />

Do caminho percorrido resulta a consciência<br />

<strong>de</strong> que este <strong>Jardim</strong> se talhou no <strong>contraponto</strong><br />

<strong>entre</strong> a <strong>Arte</strong> e a Ciência, no equilíbrio<br />

<strong>entre</strong> o sonhado e o alcançado, <strong>entre</strong><br />

o <strong>de</strong>sejado e o possível. Correm-lhe, nas<br />

veias, as influências italianas e inglesas que<br />

marcaram o Portugal pombalino, as vicissitu<strong>de</strong>s<br />

económicas e políticas que acompanharam<br />

o século XIX, bem como os diferentes<br />

nacionalismos que percorreram o século<br />

XX. De todos constitui um testemunho<br />

vivo, cuja valorização <strong>de</strong>pen<strong>de</strong>, como invariavelmente<br />

acontece, do grau <strong>de</strong> conhecimento<br />

a seu respeito.<br />

1 Sobre este assunto, veja-se Fernando Taveira<br />

da Fonseca, “O <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> no contexto da<br />

Reforma Pombalina da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong><br />

(1772)”, em O Século das Luzes: Portugal,<br />

Brasil e região do Rio Prata. Actas do Congresso<br />

realizado em Berlim <strong>de</strong> 19 a 24 <strong>de</strong> Maio <strong>de</strong> 2003,<br />

(no prelo).<br />

2 Estatutos da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong> (1772),<br />

vol. III, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>,<br />

66<br />

11 Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos, Relação Geral do Estado<br />

da Universida<strong>de</strong> (1777), <strong>Coimbra</strong>, <strong>Coimbra</strong> University,<br />

1980, p. 132.<br />

12 Júlio Henriques, “O <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. II (1792-1810)”, O Instituto,<br />

2nd series, vol. XXIII, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, University<br />

Press, July/December 1876, p. 19, 55.<br />

13 Lur<strong>de</strong>s Craveiro, “A arquitectura da ciência”,<br />

in Laboratório do Mundo. Idéias e saberes do<br />

século XVIII, São Paulo/Lisbon, Pinacoteca/Imprensa<br />

Oficial, 2004, [Catalogue], p. 99.<br />

14 Júlio Henriques, “O <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. II (1792-1810)”, p. 58-59.<br />

15 Duquesa <strong>de</strong> Abrantes, Portugal a principios<br />

<strong>de</strong>l siglo XIX. Recuerdos <strong>de</strong> una embajadora, 2nd<br />

ed., Madrid, Editorial Espasa-Calpe, 1968, p. 113.<br />

16 Júlio Henriques, “O <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. V (1855-1873)”, O Instituto,<br />

2nd series, vol. XXIII, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, University<br />

Press, July/December 1876, p. 158.<br />

17 Júlio Henriques, “O museu botanico da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

e as collecções <strong>de</strong> productos <strong>de</strong><br />

Macau e Timor”, O Instituto, 2nd series, vol. 30,<br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>, 1883, p. 60.<br />

18 Júlio Henriques, “Relatorio do professor da<br />

ca<strong>de</strong>ira <strong>de</strong> botanica relativo ao anno lectivo<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1887 a 1888”, Annuario da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, University Press, 1889, p.<br />

313.<br />

19 “Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. O museu botanico”,<br />

[Júlio Henriques], Annuario da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, University Press,<br />

1888, p. V-VI.<br />

20 Júlio Henriques, “Relatorio do professor da<br />

ca<strong>de</strong>ira <strong>de</strong> botanica relativo ao anno lectivo<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1881 a 1882”, Annuario da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, University Press, 1882, p.<br />

245; Júlio Henriques, “A cultura das plantas que<br />

dão a quina nas possessões portuguezas”, O<br />

Instituto, 2nd series, vol. 22, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, 1876, p.<br />

189.<br />

21 Júlio Henriques, “Oração <strong>de</strong> sapiencia recitada<br />

na Sala dos Actos Gran<strong>de</strong>s da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong> no dia 16 <strong>de</strong> Outubro <strong>de</strong> 1894”,<br />

Annuario da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, <strong>Coimbra</strong>,<br />

University Press, 1895, p. XXIII.<br />

22 CAPOCUC Files consulted: 114, 114A, 114B,<br />

114C, 148, 167, 169, 172, 180, 198, 197, 198, 199,<br />

200, 210, 219, 243, 548, 613, 622 e 699 da CAPO-<br />

CUC. <strong>Coimbra</strong> University Archive.<br />

23 CAPOCUC File 198 – Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />

(Project for alterations). <strong>Coimbra</strong> University


1972, p. 266-267.<br />

3 Manuel Lopes <strong>de</strong> Almeida, Documentos da<br />

reforma pombalina, [Doc. XXXIV. 7 <strong>de</strong> Novembro<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1772. Carta do Marquês para D. Francisco<br />

<strong>de</strong> Lemos], vol. I, 1771-1782, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, 1937, p. 52-53.<br />

4 Carta <strong>de</strong> Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos, enviada ao marquês<br />

<strong>de</strong> Pombal com data <strong>de</strong> 3 <strong>de</strong> Fevereiro <strong>de</strong><br />

1773. Citado por Teófilo Braga, Historia da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong> nas suas relações com a<br />

instrucção publica portugueza, tomo III, 1700 a<br />

1800, Lisboa, Aca<strong>de</strong>mia Real das Sciencias, 1898,<br />

p. 470.<br />

5 Manuel Lopes <strong>de</strong> Almeida, Documentos da<br />

reforma pombalina, [Doc. XLIV. 12 <strong>de</strong> Fevereiro<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1773. Sobre a chegada das máquinas e instrumentos<br />

<strong>de</strong> Física e <strong>de</strong>lineamento do Horto<br />

<strong>Botânico</strong>], vol. I, 1771-1782, p. 69.<br />

6 Carta <strong>de</strong> Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos, enviada ao marquês<br />

<strong>de</strong> Pombal com data <strong>de</strong> 22 <strong>de</strong> Fevereiro <strong>de</strong><br />

1773. Citado por Teófilo Braga, Historia da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong> nas suas relações com a<br />

instrucção publica portugueza, tomo III, 1700 a<br />

1800, p. 479-480.<br />

7 Teófilo Braga, Historia da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> nas suas relações com a instrucção<br />

publica portugueza, tomo III, 1700 a 1800, p.<br />

477.<br />

8 Teófilo Braga, Historia da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> nas suas relações com a instrucção<br />

publica portugueza, tomo III, 1700 a 1800, p.<br />

476.<br />

9 Manuel Lopes <strong>de</strong> Almeida, Documentos da<br />

reforma pombalina, [Doc. LXV. 5 <strong>de</strong> Outubro<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1773. Ofício sobre o <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong>], vol. I,<br />

1771-1782, p. 104.<br />

10 Manuel Lopes <strong>de</strong> Almeida, Documentos da<br />

reforma pombalina, [Doc. LXV. 5 <strong>de</strong> Outubro<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1773. Ofício sobre o <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong>], vol. I,<br />

1771-1782, p. 105.<br />

11 Francisco <strong>de</strong> Lemos, Relação Geral do Estado<br />

da Universida<strong>de</strong> (1777), <strong>Coimbra</strong>, Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, 1980, p. 132.<br />

12 Júlio Henriques, “O <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. II (1792-1810)”, O Instituto,<br />

2.ª série, vol. XXIII, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, Imprensa da<br />

Universida<strong>de</strong>, Julho/Dezembro <strong>de</strong> 1876, p. 19,<br />

55.<br />

13 Lur<strong>de</strong>s Craveiro, “A arquitectura da ciência”,<br />

em Laboratório do Mundo. Idéias e saberes<br />

do século XVIII, São Paulo/Lisboa, Pinacoteca e<br />

Imprensa Oficial, 2004, [Catálogo], p. 99.<br />

Archive.<br />

24 CAPOCUC File 199 – Cold greenhouse.<br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> University Archive.<br />

25 CAPOCUC File 210 – Bridge and alterations<br />

to the connection between the Botanical<br />

Gar<strong>de</strong>n and the thicket <strong>Coimbra</strong> University<br />

Archive.<br />

26 CAPOCUC File 114A – Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n.<br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> University Archive.<br />

27 CAPOCUC File 548 – Adaptation of the St<br />

Bento building into the Botanical Institute.<br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> University Archive.<br />

28 CAPOCUC File 114 – Botanical Gar<strong>de</strong>n.<br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong> University Archive.<br />

67


14 Júlio Henriques, “O <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. II (1792-1810)”, p. 58-59.<br />

15 Duquesa <strong>de</strong> Abrantes, Portugal a principios<br />

<strong>de</strong>l siglo XIX. Recuerdos <strong>de</strong> una embajadora, 2.ª<br />

ed., Madrid, Editorial Espasa-Calpe, 1968, p. 113.<br />

16 Júlio Henriques, “O <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. V (1855-1873)”, O Instituto,<br />

2.ª série, vol. XXIII, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, Imprensa da<br />

Universida<strong>de</strong>, Julho/Dezembro <strong>de</strong> 1876, p. 158.<br />

17 Júlio Henriques, “O museu botanico da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

e as collecções <strong>de</strong> productos <strong>de</strong><br />

Macau e Timor”, O Instituto, 2.ª série, vol. 30,<br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>, 1883, p. 60.<br />

18 Júlio Henriques, “Relatorio do professor da<br />

ca<strong>de</strong>ira <strong>de</strong> botanica relativo ao anno lectivo<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1887 a 1888”, Annuario da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, Imprensa da Universida<strong>de</strong>,<br />

1889, p. 313.<br />

19 “Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. O museu botanico”,<br />

[Júlio Henriques], Annuario da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, Imprensa da Universida<strong>de</strong>,<br />

1888, p. V-VI.<br />

20 Júlio Henriques, “Relatorio do professor da<br />

ca<strong>de</strong>ira <strong>de</strong> botanica relativo ao anno lectivo<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1881 a 1882”, Annuario da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, Imprensa da Universida<strong>de</strong>,<br />

1882, p. 245; Júlio Henriques, “A cultura das<br />

plantas que dão a quina nas possessões portuguezas”,<br />

O Instituto, 2.ª série, vol. 22, <strong>Coimbra</strong>,<br />

1876, p. 189.<br />

21 Júlio Henriques, “Oração <strong>de</strong> sapiencia recitada<br />

na Sala dos Actos Gran<strong>de</strong>s da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong> no dia 16 <strong>de</strong> Outubro <strong>de</strong> 1894”,<br />

Annuario da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, <strong>Coimbra</strong>,<br />

Imprensa da Universida<strong>de</strong>, 1895, p. XXIII.<br />

22 Para o estudo da intervenção da CAPOCUC<br />

no <strong>Jardim</strong> foram consultados os processos 114,<br />

114A, 114B, 114C, 148, 167, 169, 172, 180, 198,<br />

197, 198, 199, 200, 210, 219, 243, 548, 613, 622 e<br />

699 da CAPOCUC. Arquivo da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>.<br />

23 Processo 198 da CAPOCUC – <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong><br />

(Projecto <strong>de</strong> remo<strong>de</strong>lação). Arquivo da<br />

Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>.<br />

24 Processo 199 da CAPOCUC – Estufa fria.<br />

Arquivo da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>.<br />

25 Processo 210 da CAPOCUC – Ponte e arranjo<br />

da ligação do <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> com a mata.<br />

Arquivo da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>.<br />

26 Processo 114A da CAPOCUC – <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong>.<br />

Arquivo da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>.<br />

27 Processo 548 da CAPOCUC – Adaptação<br />

68


do edifício <strong>de</strong> S. Bento a Instituto <strong>Botânico</strong>.<br />

Arquivo da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>.<br />

28 Processo 114 da CAPOCUC – <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong>.<br />

Arquivo da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>.<br />

Imagens<br />

Fig. 1 Planta para um Horto <strong>Botânico</strong> i<strong>de</strong>alizada<br />

pelo arquitecto E. Oakley e executada por<br />

B. Cole. Peça <strong>de</strong>senhada <strong>de</strong>dicada por Jacob <strong>de</strong><br />

Castro Sarmento em 1731 ao reitor da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, D. Francisco Carneiro <strong>de</strong><br />

Figueiroa. Biblioteca Geral da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>, Ms. 3377/75.<br />

Fig. 2 Planta para o <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. Sem autor. 1773 (?). Biblioteca<br />

do Departamento <strong>de</strong> Botânica da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, Sala E.<br />

Fig. 3 Risco do <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> para a Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. Júlio Mattiazzi. Sem data.<br />

Reprodução <strong>de</strong> Riscos das obras da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, Museu Nacional <strong>de</strong><br />

Machado <strong>de</strong> Castro, 1983, p. 55. [Álbum original<br />

pertencente à família Santos Simões]<br />

Fig. 4 Risco das estufas do <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da<br />

Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. Sem autor. Sem data.<br />

Reprodução <strong>de</strong> Riscos das obras da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, <strong>Coimbra</strong>, Museu Nacional <strong>de</strong><br />

Machado <strong>de</strong> Castro, 1983, p. 56. [Álbum original<br />

pertencente à família Santos Simões]<br />

Fig. 5 Risco das estufas do Real <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong><br />

da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. Sem autor. Sem<br />

data (século XVIII). Biblioteca do Departamento<br />

<strong>de</strong> Botânica da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>,<br />

Sala E.<br />

Fig. 6 Mapa do terreno que ocupa o <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

<strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. Manuel<br />

Alves Macomboa. 1795. Biblioteca Geral da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, Ms. 3380.<br />

Fig. 7 Planta do <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, com a indicação das partes<br />

essenciais e secundárias, segundo Félix Avelar<br />

Brotero. Reprodução <strong>de</strong> Júlio Henriques, “O<br />

<strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>.<br />

II (1792-1810)”, O Instituto, 2.ª série, vol. XXIII,<br />

<strong>Coimbra</strong>, Imprensa da Universida<strong>de</strong>, Julho/<br />

Dezembro <strong>de</strong> 1876, s/p.<br />

Fig. 8 Primeiro orçamento fundamental do<br />

risco do <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong>. [José do] Couto. Outubro<br />

<strong>de</strong> 1807. Biblioteca do Departamento <strong>de</strong><br />

Botânica da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>, Sala E.<br />

Fig. 9 Projecto para o portal principal do <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

<strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. José do<br />

Couto dos Santos Leal. 1818. Museu Nacional<br />

<strong>de</strong> Machado <strong>de</strong> Castro. MNMC 2898; DA 37.<br />

Fig. 10 Obras na estufa pequena, Luiz Carrisso,<br />

1934. Colecção do Departamento <strong>de</strong> Botânica<br />

da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>.<br />

Fig. 11 Projecto <strong>de</strong> remo<strong>de</strong>lação do <strong>Jardim</strong><br />

<strong>Botânico</strong> da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. Cottinelli<br />

Telmo e Armand Van Bellinghen. 1945 (?).<br />

Arquivo da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>. Processo<br />

198 da CAPOCUC – <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> (Projecto<br />

<strong>de</strong> remo<strong>de</strong>lação).<br />

Fig. 12 Desenho da fonte monumental para o<br />

quadrado central do <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong>. Álvaro da<br />

Fonseca (?). Sem data. Na margem direita lê-se<br />

“Falta para o <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>”. Processo<br />

114B da CAPOCUC – <strong>Jardim</strong> <strong>Botânico</strong>.<br />

Arquivo da Universida<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Coimbra</strong>.<br />

69

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