A Colonial Court: architecture, ornaments and utensils of the Ouro Preto Old Palace (1721-1735)

ABSTRACT This article analyzed the architecture, ornaments and utensils present in the Ouro Preto Old Palace, the first house of governors installed in Vila Rica and a building that served as the official residence of the Dom Lourenço de Almeida (1721-1732) and Conde das Galvêas captains-generals. The house of the Vila Rica main captain Henrique Lopes de Araújo, host and benefactor, resident in a neighboring and integrated building to the palace, was also evaluated. Although the Ouro Preto Old Palace has became a courtier space, adapted to the demands of the noble or seigniorial house, it maintained specific characteristics of the colonial reality, manifested, for example, in the presence of the slavery, which will determine, furthermore, the future of that property.