Lisbonne. Statue du Marquis de la Bandeira [Lisbon. Statue of the Marquis de Bandeira]

Created by the Italian sculptor Giovanni Ciniselli (1832-1883), the Monument to the Marquis of Sá da Bandeira was unveiled on 31 July 1884.

This photographic evidence, dated c. 1890, a few years after the unveiling of the monument, is part of an album entitled Lisbonne. A copy of this album of views of Lisbon, which was no doubt disseminated in French circles linked to growing international tourism, was owned by engineer Augusto Vieira da Silva (1869-1951) and, in 1953, was acquired by Lisbon City Council from his descendants.

Bernardo de Sá Nogueira de Figueiredo (Santarém, 1795 - Lisbon, 1876), Marquis of Sá da Bandeira, was a man of ideals, constantly fighting for freedom and equality. He believed that there were thousands of subjects of the Portuguese crown – slaves – who did not enjoy the guarantees granted by the constitutional charter. He was, for that reason, a committed abolitionist and promoted colonial development. He advocated the complete abolition of slavery, believing that education and freedom to work were the only true factors in the development of the African territories. As a legislator, in confrontation with the authorities and the African settlers, he gradually abolished slavery and the slave trade, with various decree-laws between 1836 and 1869. The monument that pays tribute to him was funded by public subscription, with several former slaves among the contributors.

He himself wrote the epitaph: ‘(...) he served his country and, serving his convictions, he dies content. The nation owes him nothing’.