Pereda Palace

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox building | name = Pereda Palace | image = BrazilianEmbassyBsAs1.jpg | caption = Facade of the embassy | alternate_names = Pereda Girado Palace | address = 1130 Arroyo Street (C1010AAH) | location = Retiro, Ciudad de Buenos Aires | location_country = Argentina, {{ARG}} | coordinates = {{coord|-34.5915|-58.3837|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Argentina | construction_start_date = 1919 | completion_date = 1936 | architect = Léonard Louis Martin & Jules Dormal Godet | architectural_style = Pastiche – Eclecticism between Belle Époque & Haussmannien style | owner = Federal government of Brazil (since 1944) | status = Diplomatic use | floor_area = {{convert|4000|m2}} | floor_count = 3 with mansard and cupola | website = http://buenosaires.itamaraty.gov.br/es-es/ }} The '''Pereda Palace''' is an old manor located in front of the Plazoleta Carlos Pellegrini, at the beginning of Avenida Alvear, in Buenos Aires, at number 1130 Arroyo St. It was built by the doctor and large farmer (122.000 hectares) Celedonio Tomás Pereda (1860–1941) and his wife María Justina Girado (1865–1942), member of a family of landowners as she was the granddaughter of Juan Elías Girado (1794–1858), owner of the ″''Estancia San Juan''″ (250.000 hectares). The building is currently the residence of the Ambassador of Brazil in Buenos Aires and headquarters of the Cultural Space of the Embassy.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090524022327/http://www.brasil.org.ar/actividades-culturales Website Brasil.Org.Ar] (in Spanish).</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090930142922/http://www.brasil.org.ar/palacio-pereda/ Brazilian Embassy in Buenos Aires] (in Spanish).</ref>

The remarkable urban group formed by the palace and its surroundings, like few places in Buenos Aires, reflect the strong influence exercised by French architecture in Argentina, especially during the first decades of the 20th century. They collaborate to reinforce the Parisian tonality of the place the irregular layout of the streets of the sector and the undoubted French image of several private residences, imposing and of admirable design.

== Construction's history and owners == The building was begun to build in 1919 (but the projectual work began already in 1917) by the French architect Léonard Louis Martin following the strict wishes of the owner: Recreate here a version (pastiche) of the Jacquémart André Palace<ref>[https://www.infobae.com/economia/real-estate/2016/11/29/los-secretos-del-palacio-pereda-el-emblema-porteno-inspirado-en-un-museo-frances/ "Los secretos del Palacio Pereda, el emblema porteño inspirado en un museo francés" by Martina Putruele] (in Spanish) for the Real State section of the InfoBAE Diario. November 20, 2016.</ref> in Paris (converted into a museum in 1913); and in the back, on the gardens, make a descent in the style of the ''Escalier in fer à cheval''<ref>[https://scontent.faep5-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14364622_236658903403374_8349020408536266425_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent.faep5-1.fna&oh=21fda273bbc87266b1b2d557e797c7be&oe=5CD5E27E A view of the Horseshoe staircase] by [https://www.facebook.com/IvandeBuenosAires Iván Buenosaires]. September 15, 2016.</ref> ("Horseshoe staircase") of the castle of Fontainebleau. In 1920, and because of not being satisfied with the work done on the perron, the owner replaces Martin with the Belgian architect Jules Dormal Godet who was then in charge of the works of the Teatro Colón.<ref>[https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/suplementos/m2/10-2633-2013-11-27.html "Por una escalera" by Jorge Tartarini] (in Spanish) for the '''m2''' Supplement of the Diario Página/12. November 22, 2013.</ref> Mr. Raymond Rerny of the Paris firm Jansen was hired to decorate the interiors.<ref name="arcon">[http://www.arcondebuenosaires.com.ar/palacio_pereda.htm Pereda Palace] (in Spanish) in the website "''Arcón de Buenos Aires''".</ref>

In 1935, Brazilian President Getúlio Vargas was invited by the Pereda Family, during an official visit to Argentina, and was delighted with the palace.<ref>[https://www.clarin.com/cultura/getulio_vargas-fotos-exposicion-palacio_pereda_0_SJ9bJxtDmg.html "Exposición en el Palacio Pereda" by Natasha Niebieskikwiat] (in Spanish) for the Culture Supplement of the Diario Clarín. November 24, 2015.</ref> Seven years later and after the death of both members of Pereda marriage, his heirs offered the palace to Brazil, whose ambassador Mr. João Batista Luzardo signed the contract of sale on July 6, 1945 -for exchange, Brazil yielded the building of the old embassy (at 1500 Callao avenue) plus 4,000 tons of iron bars (material that can not be broken by the war) in exchange for the beautiful palace and its entire inventory.<ref name="arcon" />

== Works of art and decoration == The ceilings of the state rooms (the five most important of its fifty rooms) in the first floor, are the work of the Catalan painter Josep María Sert i Badía who made the paintings in his Parisian atelier on ''Barbet de Jouy'' street after receiving the models of said rooms. The fabrics arrived to the city by boat in 1932 and were installed by Mr. Carlos Lagazio, following the instructions of the artist, with the system of marouflage.<ref name="arcon" /> The one in the music room is called '''Aprés la pluie le beau temps''' ("After rain the good weather"), also known as '''El agujero celeste''' ("The Celestial Hole", oil on canvas, 6,60m x 8,30m)<ref>[https://scontent.faep5-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14333158_236658840070047_7486507539805512885_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ht=scontent.faep5-1.fna&oh=1db801335687ea4e3288cb59ed80636b&oe=5CC08363 Detail of the oil "The Celestial Hole" by Sert] by [https://www.facebook.com/IvandeBuenosAires Iván Buenosaires]. September 15, 2016.</ref> a painting that represents big storm clouds. The great hall presents a painting (a "''trompe l'oeil''") called '''Los equilibristas'''.<ref name="murals">[http://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/areas/cultura/murales/fichas/arroyo1130.htm Murals of Buenos Aires – Arroyo 1130] (in Spanish) by The GCBA.</ref> ("The equilibrist", oil on canvas, 6m x 12m)<ref>[http://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/areas/cultura/murales/fotos/arroyo-1130.jpg A panoramic view of the oil "The equilibrist" by Sert] of the website "Murals of Buenos Aires" (in Spanish) of the Government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.</ref> of tinkers suspended in the air with 78 figures in violent foreshortening.<ref name="P12">[https://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/suplementos/m2/10-2108-2011-07-16.html "Una obra brillante" by Sergio Kiernan] (in Spanish) for the '''m2''' Supplement of the Diario Página/12. July 16, 2011.</ref> The painting of the main dining room called '''El aseo de Don Quijote''' ("The toilet of Don Quixote", oil on canvas, 5,60m x 10,20m) another "''trompe l'oeil''" that represents the mocking episode in which Don Quixote is shaved by the ladies. Other works are: '''La tela de araña''' ("The spider web", oil on canvas, 5m x 7,20m)<ref>[https://scontent.faep5-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14390900_236659090070022_4359273435990402987_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ht=scontent.faep5-1.fna&oh=2b073c90ecbed96143546357e646267b&oe=5CD3B65E Detail of the oil "The spider web" by Sert] by [https://www.facebook.com/IvandeBuenosAires Iván Buenosaires]. September 15, 2016.</ref> in the daily dining room, and '''Diana la cazadora''' ("Diana the hunter", oil on canvas, 6,60m x 7,80m) in the ''Salón Dorado'' ("State Hall"). Also noteworthy are the masterful use of the stucco, the eighteenth-century European furniture, the woods (all in Slavonian oak, except in the main dining room that was made of walnut)<ref>[https://www.lanacion.com.ar/1965552-el-palacio-pereda-un-rincon-de-paris-en-el-barrio-de-recoleta "El Palacio Pereda: un rincón de París en el barrio de Recoleta" by Mercedes Uranga] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526041346/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/1965552-el-palacio-pereda-un-rincon-de-paris-en-el-barrio-de-recoleta |date=May 26, 2018 }} (in Spanish) for the Diario La Nación. December 9, 2016.</ref> of the panelling,<ref>[https://bucket3.glanacion.com/anexos/fotos/47/2324747h768.jpg View of the furniture and the boiserie of the Pereda Palace Dining Room] by Rodrigo Néspolo (PH) of the Diario La Nación. December 9, 2016.</ref> the tapestries of Aubusson,<ref>[https://scontent.faep5-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14291773_236658650070066_3235463630817971602_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent.faep5-1.fna&oh=28e13afe8015794cd121d1e0ba2b32f4&oe=5CC5C48A An example of the Aubusson tapestry in the Palace] by [https://www.facebook.com/IvandeBuenosAires Iván Buenosaires]. September 15, 2016.</ref> carpets, statues and curtains of the mansion.

== Renovations and Restorations == In 1977 works were carried out to adapt the chapel for public functions and it was dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida, patron saint of Brazil. In 1989 the Sert's oil paintings were carefully repaired and neatly renovated by Mr. Domingo Tellechea, founder of the "Argentinian Center for Restoration", and Director of the "Technical Restoration Institute of Brazil", in São Paulo.<ref name="murals" />

In 1995 expert reports are made for the subsequent integral restoration of the exterior of the palace. The works begin in 1998 with the complete restoration of the main façade and, later in the same year, continue with the rear façade of the building. To finish in 1999 with the restoration of the plastering of the access (Integral Project: Arq.os Báez, Carena & Grementieri; Implementation: Leguizamón, Escurra & Asoc.)<ref>[http://www.leguizamon-ezcurra.com.ar/rpalacioperedaetapa1.html 1st Restoration stage] (in Spanish).</ref>

During 2010 and 2011 the restoration and renovation of the interior of the palace (residence of the ambassador and reception halls) was carried out under the orders of the Estudio Ing. Villa S.R.L. (Integral project and work of the same team that made the exterior).<ref>[http://www.leguizamon-ezcurra.com.ar/rpalacioperedaetapa2.html 2nd Restoration stage] (in Spanish).</ref><ref name="P12" />

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * link=|alt=|20x20px Wikimedia Commons hosts a multimedia category about '''Pereda Palace'''.

Category:Palaces in Buenos Aires Category:Official residences in Argentina Category:Argentina–Brazil relations Category:Diplomatic missions in Buenos Aires