Manuel Pereira de Sampaio

Manuel Pereira de Sampaio (Lagos; 1692 - Rome; February 1750) was a Portuguese nobleman and diplomat, who served as King John V of Portugal's ambassador to the Holy See.

He is remembered notably for having secured the styling of Most Faithful Majesty for the Portuguese monarchy, in 1748, and for compiling what is now known as the Weale Album (Portuguese: Álbum Weale), an extensive catalog of artistic commissions by John V for Lisbon from Rome.

Life The exact details of his origins are unclear, it is known that Pereira de Sampaio was born in Lagos, in the Algarve, as a bastard of a minor Fidalgo of Portuguese nobility, Jacinto de Sampaio Vieira Lobos. He was Knight of the Order of Christ.

While ambassador, Pereira de Sampaio cataloged the numerous artistic commissions made by King John V in Rome, including artwork destined for Ribeira Palace and the famed Chapel of St. John the Baptist, destined for the Igreja de São Roque, in what is now known as the Weale Album.

On 15 September 1742, by consideration of services made at the court of Rome, Manuel Pereira de Sampaio, asked for a letter of confirmation of the commandery of Santo António, of the Order of Christ and of the presentation of the House of Bragança, by abandonment of Manuel Caetano Lopes.