Page 62 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Lisbon

60  l I s BO n A r EA B y A r EA

Exploring the Collections of the Panels of St Vincent
Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga

The museum has the largest collection of paintings in
Portugal and is particularly strong on early religious works by
Portuguese artists. The majority of exhibits came from convents
and monasteries following the suppression of religious
orders in 1834. There are also extensive displays of sculpture,
silverware, porcelain and applied arts, giving an overview
of Portuguese art from the Middle Ages to the 19th century,
complemented by many fine European and Oriental pieces.
The theme of the Discoveries is ever-present, illustrating
Portugal’s links with Brazil, Africa, India, China and Japan.

master of fantasy, Hieronymus
European Art Bosch (1450–1516). Of the small
Paintings by European artists, number of Italian works, the
dating from the 14th to the finest include St Augustine by
19th century, are arranged the Renaissance painter Piero Cistercian monks Friar
chronologically on the ground della Francesca (c.1420–92) from Alcobaça in
floor. Unlike the Portuguese art, and a graceful early altar panel central Portugal Fisherman
which is located on the second representing The Miracle of
floor, most of the works in this St Eusebius of Cremona by
section were donated from Raphael (1483–1520).
private collections, contributing Portuguese art and one that
to the great diversity of works has become a symbol of national
on display. The first rooms, Portuguese Painting pride in the Age of Discovery.
and Sculpture
dedicated to the 14th and Painted around 1470–80, and
15th centuries, trace the Many of the earliest works of art generally believed to be by
transition from medieval are by the Portuguese primitive Nuno Gonçalves, the altarpiece
Gothic taste to the aesthetic painters, who were influenced shows St Vincent, patron saint
of the Renaissance. by the realistic detail of Flemish of Lisbon, surrounded by
Among the painters best artists. There had always been dignitaries, knights and monks
represented in the European Art strong trading links between as well as beggars and fishermen
section are the 16th-century Portugal and Flanders and in (see above). The accurate portrayal
German and Flemish artists. the 15th and 16th centuries of contemporary figures makes
Notable works are St Jerome several painters of Flemish origin, the painting an invaluable
by Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), for example Frey Carlos of Évora, historical and social document.
Salomé by Lucas Cranach the set up workshops in Portugal. Later works include a
Elder (1472–1553), Virgin and Pride of place, however, goes 16th-century portrait of the
Child by Hans Memling (c.1430– to the São Vicente de Fora young Dom Sebastião (1557–
94) and The Temptations of polyptych, the most important 78) by Cristóvão de Morais and
St Anthony by the great Dutch painting of 15th-century paintings by Neo-Classical artist
Domingos António de Sequeira.
The museum’s sculpture
collection has many Gothic
polychrome stone and wood
statues of Christ, the Virgin and
saints. There are also statues
from the 17th century and a
late-18th-century Nativity scene
by Barros Laborão in the Chapel
of St Albert.

Portuguese and
Chinese Ceramics
The extensive collection of
ceramics enables visitors to
trace the evolution of Chinese
Central panel of The Temptations of St Anthony by Hieronymus Bosch porcelain and Portuguese faïence

LS_060-061.indd 60 17/10/14 5:48 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Flashmap follow-on template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.5)
Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm