NEW’S | Azores receive donation of memorabilia pertaining to Antero de Quental

The Autonomous Region of the Azores has recently received an important donation of memorabilia to the poet Antero de Quental (1842-1891) and his family, made by Judite Fernanda Calheiros Quental, great-grandniece of Antero de Quental, a prominent and essential figure in Azorean and Portuguese culture.

The donation was personally delivered by the donator to the President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, on June 29, 2023, during a meeting held in Lisbon, which was also attended by Ana Maria Almeida Martins, a distinguished researcher dedicated to the work of Antero de Quental, and Pedro Pascoal de Melo, a member of the President’s cabinet.

Judite Fernanda Quental Calheiros was born in 1929 to Nuno Coutinho Novais de Quental. She is the granddaughter of Paulo de Quental (1859-19??) and great-granddaughter of André de Quental (1836-1888) – elder brother of the poet Antero de Quental – and great-great-granddaughter of Fernando de Quental (1814-1872).

The donation includes an album that, among others, contains the poem “Amor de Mãe,” dated from July 16, 1859, in Ramalho (Ponta Delgada) and penned by Antero Tarquínio Quental, whose authenticity was established by researcher Ana Maria Almeida Martins by comparison with a letter the poet wrote to his mother on June 29 of the previous year; a signet ring bearing the Ponte Quental coat of arms, which may have belonged to André de Quental, the poet’s brother, or to his son Paulo de Quental; a medal from Pedro IV and Maria II or from the Campaigns for Freedom, awarded to Fernando do Quental, the poet’s father, a supporter of the liberal cause and one of the Braves of Mindelo; and, finally, the Military Medals for Exemplary Behaviour (MPCE) of the Royal Military Order of Aviz (CvA) and the Spanish Order of the Red Cross (2nd Class), awarded to Paulo de Quental, the poet’s nephew.

The donator expressed her profound wish that the items donated be deposited next to Antero de Quental’s private book collection, currently housed at the Public Library and Regional Archive of Ponta Delgada.

GRA/RÁDIOILHÉU