Page 83 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Lisbon

FUR THER AFIELD  81

a masterpiece of psychological
penetration, and Pallas Athena
(c.1657), said to have been
modelled on Rembrandt’s
son, Titus, and previously
thought to have portrayed
Alexander the Great. Rubens
is represented by three
paintings, the most remarkable
of which is the Portrait of
Helena Fourment (1630–2), the
artist’s second wife.
The gallery beyond the
Dutch and Flemish paintings View of the Molo with the Ducal Palace (c.1780–90) by Francesco Guardi
has tapestries and textiles
from Italy and Flanders, Italian Commissioned in 1780 by and Boy Blowing Bubbles,
ceramics, rare 15th-century the Duke of Saxe-Gotha for painted in 1867. Renoir’s
medallions and sculpture. his gardens, it became one of Portrait of Madame Claude
the principal exhibits in the Monet was painted
Hermitage in Russia during the in about 1872–4 when
French 18th-Century 19th and early 20th centuries. the artist was staying
Decorative Arts
One whole room is devoted with Monet at his country
Some remarkably elaborate to views of Venice by the home in Argenteuil, in
Louis XV and Louis XVI pieces, 18th-century Venetian painter the outskirts of Paris.
many commissioned by royalty, Francesco Guardi, and a
feature in the collection of small collection of British Lalique Collection
French 18th-century furniture. art includes works by leading
The exhibits, many of them 18th-century portraitists, The tour of the museum ends
embellished with lacquer such as Gainsborough’s with an entire room filled with
panels, ebony and bronze, are Portrait of Mrs Lowndes-Stone the flamboyant creations of
grouped together according to (c.1775) and Romney’s Portrait French Art Nouveau jeweller,
historical style with Beauvais of Miss Constable (1787). There René Lalique (1860–1945).
and “chinoiserie” Aubusson are also two stormy seascapes Gulbenkian was a close friend
tapestries decorating the walls. by JMW Turner (1775–1851). of Lalique’s and he acquired
The French silverware from French 19th-century landscape many of the pieces of jewellery,
the same period, much of which painting is well represented glassware and ivory on display
once adorned the dining tables here, reflecting Gulbenkian’s here directly from the artist.
of Russian palaces, includes preference for naturalism, with Inlaid with semiprecious
lavishly decorated soup tureens, works by the Barbizon school stones and covered with
salt-cellars and platters. and the Impressionists. The enamel or gold leaf, the
best-known paintings in the brooches, necklaces, vases
section, however, are probably and combs are decorated
Manet’s Boy with Cherries, with the dragonfly, peacock
painted in about 1858 at the or sensual female nude motifs
beginning of the artist’s career, characteristic of Art Nouveau.
Calouste Gulbenkian
Born in Scutari (Turkey) in 1869,
Gulbenkian started his art collection at
Louis XV chest of drawers inlaid with the age of 14 when he bought some
ebony and bronze ancient coins in a bazaar. In 1928 he was
granted a 5 per cent stake in four major
oil companies, including BP and Shell, in
European Art (18th– thanks for his part in the transfer of the
19th Centuries) assets of the Turkish Petroleum Company
to those four companies. He thereby earned
The art of the 18th century himself the nickname of “Mr Five Percent”. With
is dominated by French the wealth he accumulated, Gulbenkian was able to indulge his
painters, including Watteau passion for fine works of art. During World War II, he went to live in
(1684–1721), Fragonard (1732– neutral Portugal and, on his death in 1955, bequeathed his estate to
1806) and Boucher (1703–70). the Portuguese in the form of a charitable trust. The Foundation
The most celebrated piece of supports many cultural activities and has its own orchestra, art library,
sculpture is a statue of Diana concert halls and a modern art centre.
by Jean-Antoine Houdon.

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