Long overlooked by art historiography, Domingos da Rosa (1724–1797) emerged as the leading portraitist of the royal family during the early years of Queen Maria I’s reign, playing a pivotal role in shaping the monarchy’s official image.
Building on prior scholarship and a critical examination of previously unpublished documentation, this essay seeks to reassess and elevate his artistic legacy. Drawing on a substantial and significant legacy, it explores the nature and purpose of his commissions, as well as the circumstances that led to the dispersal of his oeuvre. The study further examines how these works were later absorbed into public and private collections – most notably those of Museums and Monuments of Portugal and the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa (Fundação da Casa de Bragança). In doing so, it offers an integrated reading of Rosa’s contribution, while also supporting the institutional appreciation and strategic enhancement of these collections.