Page 80 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Lisbon

78  LISBON AREA B Y AREA

6 Museu Calouste Gulbenkian

Thanks to a wealthy Armenian oil magnate, Calouste
Gulbenkian (see p81), with wide-ranging tastes and an
eye for a masterpiece, this museum has one of the finest
collections of art in Europe. Inaugurated in 1969, the
purpose-built museum was created as part of the charitable
institution bequeathed to Portugal by the multimillionaire.
The design of the building, set in a spacious park allowing
natural light to fill some of the rooms, was devised to create Mustard Pot
the best layout for the founder’s varied collection. This 18th-century silver
mustard pot was made
in France by Antoine- 12
Sébastien Durand.
14
Lalique Corsage Ornament 13
The sinuous curves of the gold
and enamel snakes are typical
of René Lalique’s Art 15 11
Nouveau jewellery. 17

16

7

. Diana
This fine marble statue (1780)
by the French sculptor Jean-
Antoine Houdon was once
owned by Catherine the Great
of Russia but was considered
too obscene to exhibit. The
graceful Diana, goddess
of the hunt, stands
with a bow and
arrow in hand.
Entrance

Stairs to
. St Catherine
This serene bust, thought to be
of St Catherine, was painted by
the Flemish artist Rogier van der
Weyden (1399– or 1400–64). The
thin strip of landscape on the left
of the wooden panel brings light
and depth to the still portrait.

078-079_EW_Lisbon.indd 78 17/10/16 11:34 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm