SCALA REGIA #3

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SPREADS AND
LIST OF CONTENTS

1.

MENAGERIES

EMBRACING THE FRIGHTENING

Words by Tiago Lorga

“Old as the history of the world itself, the relation between Man and Beast has longly been defined by conflicting feelings: attraction and suspicion, wonder and terror. On this essay, Tiago Lorga guides us on a tour to the strange allure of pinching the unknown, where fear is defeated by reason and, ultimately, beauty triumphs.”

2.

SACHA WALCKHOFF

UNLEASHING THE PHOENIX

Photography by Ricardo Gomes

Interview by the team

“Nearly since ever one of the members of the Christian Lacroix family, Sacha Walckhoff became the Creative Director of the prestigious house after the departure of its eponymous founder. Under Sacha’s tutelage, Maison Christian Lacroix presents itself with a renewed, fresh and shimmering face. Avoiding to compromise or to diminish the brand’s strong heritage, Sacha was the knight in shining armour who succeeded in guiding the fashion power house on its transition into a beacon of lifestyle.”

3.

THE KING'S PAVILION

A NEOCLASSICAL RETREAT FOR
AN ENLIGHTENED MONARCH

Words and photography by Hakan Groth

“After much thinking about how to write this piece about the arts in the Swedish eighteenth century, I decided to focus on Gustav III and his Pavilion at Haga. This is a remarkable house with exquisite interiors but it was also the King’s private retreat towards the end of his life. There have been many books written about Gustav III as he was involved in so much of public life at the time... his childhood, family, politics, travels, theatre, opera, artists and many others. In the end, I chose Haga as the King was so closely involved in its creation. During his life, Gustav III faced strong political opposition from the leading aristocrats of his country. It seems that the more difficult things became, the more he concentrated on this project as a form of escapism and therapy. A strong advocate of the enlightened absolutism, it is believed that Gustav was planning to change the Swedish constitution by creating a parliamentary system. However, in spite of the many reforms that the King was able to promote, his premature death at the hands of assassins in 1792 prevented him from accomplishing everything he wished to.”

4.

SMART!

FASHION STORY

Photography by Marita Rita

Art direction by Pierre Roffe

We have invited our friend Austen Smart to dress smart for us and he comfortably accepted. Austen is a DJ and Music Producer and, with that in mind, the leitmotif for these photos was naturally sorted. Clubbing in style... That’s smart, no?

5.

FABULOUS FRUITS

THE COLOURFUL CRAFT OF ROSIOR

Text by the team

“Quite a while ago, amidst the trail of another workday, our team stumbled upon a marvellous gem. At the modernist-Henri-Samuel-for-Jansen-decorated Ritz, on the very center of Lisbon, we came across a charming little shop whil ephotographing another fashion story for one of our previously released issues. Similar to a jewel box lined with pink velvet, this écrin aux merveilles, filled with extraordinary jewelled surprises, captured our attention. This was the very first time we came across the jewellers Rosior and we immediately became admirers.”

6.

ALL DRESSED UP
AND NOWHERE TO GO

FASHION STORY

Photography by Mikkel Russel

Art direction by Mads Lehn Kruse @MK Agency

“Superbly prepared, a languid beauty sits and waits. One is left to imagine that a certain someone forgot about the settled date and let her down. But who can say that the powdering of the nose, the brushing of the hair and the dressing of the body with such flair isn’t simply an act of self-indulgence and nothing else?”

7.

DRESSING UP

THE CLOTHING AND CURATION
OF CECIL BEATON

Words by Benjamin Linley Wild

“As diverse as his creative skills, the styles of Cecil Beaton not only defined his appearance but also his personality and aspirations. Moving from the utmost bohemian circles into the milieus of royalty, his chamaleonic qualities never ceased to grow and, associated with the continuing transformation of his personal wardrobe, the passage of time witnessed the evolution of a charismatic man whose brilliance echoes to this day.”

8.

NATIONAL PALACE OF AJUDA

MUSEUM OF DECORATIVE ARTS
AND FORMER ROYAL RESIDENCE

Words by José Alberto Ribeiro, Director,
& Curators

Photography by Pierre Roffe

“The National Palace of Ajuda is fruit of the will of King João VI of Portugal, who wished to build one of the largest palaces in the world and fill it to the brim with the riches of the Portuguese Empire. Although incomplete, it is still today the most important palace in the country regarding the relevance of its collections and authenticity of its interiors.”

9.

INFANT QUEEN

COVER FASHION STORY

Photography by Maria Rita

Art direction by Diogo Mayo and Pierre Roffe

“Final seat of one of Europe’s oldest monarchies, Ajuda Palace, in Lisbon, is the guest of honour of this issue of Scala Regia. Inspiring ourselves in the figure of Maria Pia of Savoy, an explosive redheaded princess who became Queen of Portugal at the age of fifteen, we departed in a walk through the magnificent rooms of the palace that was her life-long home.”

10.

GYNAECEUM

THE ARTWORK OF SARAH AWAD

Interview by the team

“Harmony and contrast, followed by daringness, are some of the words that first come to mind while observing the paintings of Sarah Awad. It’s probably safe to say that it is in the formula that results from the correlation of these three aspects where reside the originality and vibration of her work. To go along with the interview which Sarah amicably agreed to give us, we selected a feminine and dreamy set of oil paintings. Almost like a modern gynaceum whose occupants, emancipated from clothes and glorious in their nudity, feel proud and powerful!”

11.

TIRELLI COSTUMI

TAILORS OF DREAMS

Words by Cesare Cunaccia

Photography by Enrico Constantini

“Tirelli Costumi, an incomparable creative force that in 2014 celebrated half a century of activity, dressed the most famous and iconic films of all time. While collecting awards and prizes of different kinds, they have legated to the entire world unforgettable memories that are carved in the imaginary of each one of us.”

12.

A BAROQUE IMAGINATION

THE ARTWORK OF GERARD GAUCI

Words by Pierre Roffe

“For more than thirty years Gerard Gauci has been extensively painting and designing. «Oddity» would have been a good title for this article as ‘odd’ is how someone would describe his work at first sight. However, there is more substance to it that reveals something about the mind who has found such an uncommon way to tell a story.”

13.

POWER AND PRIDE

THE CRAZE OF MEN'S
WIGS IN HISTORY

Words by Kyriaco Nikias

“Wigs are one of those fashions so foreign to us today we wonder how anyone could sanely have worn one. The King lost his hair, donned a wig - so the story goes - and the rest followed. But male vanity was not in fact a modern thing. Since antiquity, the wig has been a symbol of indulgence, a manifestation of political allegiance and a way to move up in society.”

14.

VLADIMIR KANEVSKY

THE ALCHEMIST OF FLOWERS

Words by the team

“Alchemists tried for centuries to emulate nature’s most precious secrets and failed. Vladimir Kanevsky triumphed in this aim as, through a seemingly magical process, delicate porcelain flowers come out of his hands as beautiful and in such variety as those found in nature. This wide diversity of vibrantly coloured and richly textured flowers, set in structures flamboyantly disguised as dancing branches, leave no one indifferent.”

15.

POISE

FASHION STORY

Photography by Maria Rita

Art direction by Diogo Mayo

“Noun: Graceful and elegant bearing in a person; composure and dignity of manner; balance and equilibrium. Célio Dias, an olympic athlete, is the most gentle of the giants and the personification of poise. We knew that capturing him inside the ethereal FRESS Museum of Decorative Arts would produce a beautiful series of pictures and the most magnificent contrasts. Just like Célio cannot only be defined by the strength of his body but rather by his greater serenity, the museum itself is not simply a repository of fine objects but also a thriving organism through the schooling of decorative arts and nostalgic craftsmanship”

16.

COMPLEXLY WHITE

THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF ARTUR PASTOR
ACROSS FIFTY SUMMERS

Words by Pedro Rei

“The photographer of serendipity, Artur Pastor, sought and registered the immutable nature of the true and of the meaningful. Through fifty years his lens and his eyes teamed up to leave us a magnum opus of tens of thousands of pictures. His legacy, currently housed at Lisbon’s Municipal Archive, not only is the faithful portrait of one nation and its people but also that of the entire humanity.”

SCALA REGIA, 2024