Every significant city in the world has an impressive collection of Art. In Lisbon, the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga features masterpieces of Portuguese heritage, while the Berardo Collection Museum covers contemporary art. However, no stop to the capital city is complete without a visit to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Center for Modern Art.
The Founders Collection is comprised of over 6000 pieces of art acquired by Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian. Specific areas of interest are paintings, decorative arts, Mesopotamian Art, Egyptian Art, Greco-Roman Art, Armenian Art, Eastern Art, Sculpture and René Lalique.
Paintings from the 15th-to-17th centuries include works by Rubens and Rembrandt. 18th century works include Jean-Honoré Fragonard and Francesco Guardi. And, 19th is represented by Edgar Degas, William Turner, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Théodore Rousseau, Autumn Landscape, 1848-1850
The Center of Modern Art’s collection presently encompasses around 9000 pieces of art of both Portuguese and international artists. The bulk of the collection focuses on the breadth and diversity of Portuguese modern art. In fact, many consider this collection to be the best of Portuguese modern art from early 20th century to the 1950’s.
Works by international artists are also represented. Some of the “superstars of modern art” represented include: Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, Man Ray, Maurits Cornelis Escher, Victor Vasarely, David Hockney, Fernand Leger, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau.
(left) José Júlio Andrade dos Santos, 1958, (right) Rudolf Hausner, 1980
Temporary exhibitions are scheduled throughout the year based on works of both Portuguese and international artists. Visit the Calouste Gulbenkian website for schedule of shows.
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and Center for Modern Art
Rua Dr. Nicolau de Bettencourt
Lisbon
Phone: +351 217 823 474
Email: cam@gulbenkian.pt
Entrance:
All-inclusive (Collections + Temporary Exhibitions) – €14.00
Museum (Founder’s Collection + Modern Collection) – €10.00
50% discount for Youth Card, students until 29 and senior citizens above 65
Free Admission on Sundays after 14:00
Hours
Wednesday to Monday – 10:00 to 18:00
Closed on Tuesdays (and December 24th & 25th, January 1st, Easter Sunday & May 1)