Page 122 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

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MUSEU CALOUSTE

GULBENKIAN

EXPERIENCE Beyond the Centre 24 & 25 Dec ∑ gulbenkian.pt/museu array of René Lalique Art Nouveau jewellery.
⌂ Avenida de Berna 45A @ 713, 716, 726, 742, 746, 756 q Praça de Espanha or
São Sebastião # 10am–6pm Wed–Mon (free Sun after 2pm) ¢ 1 Jan, Easter, 1 May,
Thanks to wealthy Armenian oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian’s wide-ranging
tastes and his eye for a masterpiece, this museum has one of the finest
collections of art in Europe.

The museum’s works are split across two
separately housed collections, linked by
a serene stretch of urban park. The Founder’s
Collection, widely considered to be the
world’s most complete collection of modern
Collection – Gulbenkian’s personal pieces –
sits within a purpose-built museum dating South of the gardens stands the Modern
Portuguese art. Standard tickets allow access
from 1969, with varied exhibits ranging from to both collections, while the sculpture-dotted
ancient Egyptian statuettes to an astonishing gardens can be explored free of charge.

CALOUSTE
GULBENKIAN
Born in Scutari in 1869,
Gulbenkian started his
art collect ion at the age
of 14, when he bought
some ancient coins in a
bazaar. In 1928, he was
granted a 5 per cent
stake in four major oil
comp anies, earning
himself the nickname
“Mr Five Percent”. With 6,000
the wealth he accumu­
lated, Gulbenkian was Artworks were
able to indulge his love amassed by
of fine art. During World Gulbenkian in his
War II, he went to live in personal collection.
neutral Portugal, and
bequeathed his estate
to his adopted nation
upon his death in 1955.

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