Page 124 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

FOUNDER’S COLLECTION

Ranking alongside the Museu to the Roman period (from
de Arte Antiga (p92) as the the 1st century BC). Out-
finest museum in Lisbon, the standing pieces in the
Founder’s Collection exhibits, Classical art section include a
which span over 4,000 years magnificent red figure Greek
from ancient Egyptian figur- vase and a Roman satyr’s
EXPERIENCE Beyond the Centre played in spacious and well-lit Armenian, Gulbenkian had Rembrandt’s Portrait of an
ines, through translucent
head from the 2nd century AD.
The museum’s Eastern art
Islamic glassware, to Art
is also remarkable. Being
Nouveau brooches, are dis-
galleries, many overlooking
a keen interest in works from
the Near and Middle East,
the gardens or courtyards.
Although the museum is not
resulting in a fine collection
of Persian and Turkish carpets,
large, each work of art is
Old Man (1645), a master­
class in light and shade
worthy of attention.
textiles, costumes and cera-
mics in the Oriental Islamic
In the Egyptian, Classical
and Mesopotamian gallery
priceless treasures chart the
pieces, there is a large collec-
filled with the flam boyant
evolution of Egyptian art from tion of Chinese porcelain
Art Nouveau creations of
acquired by Gulbenkian
the Old Kingdom (c 2700 BC) gallery. In terms of Far Eastern museum ends with a room
between 1907 and 1947. One French jeweller René Lalique
of the rarest pieces a small (1860–1945). Gulbenkian
blue-glazed bowl from the was a close friend of Lalique’s
Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368). and acquired many of the
The carefully plotted pieces on display directly
route around the from the artist. Inlaid with
semiprecious stones and
covered with enamel or gold
leaf, the ornate collection
Porcelain vases on constitutes a spectacular
display within the finish to this unique and
Founder’s Collection incredibly diverse museum.

Visitor wandering
the galleries of the
Founder’s Collection
124
124

124-125_EW_Portugal.indd 124 20/09/2018 10:40

E
EW Must-see template v2 – 12th July 2018W Must-see template v2 – 12th July 2018
F Fonts: Aptifer Sans LT Pro, Posterama Text, Soho Gothic onts: Aptifer Sans LT Pro, Posterama Text, Soho Gothic
P Pro, Soho Pro, ITC Caslon 224ro, Soho Pro, ITC Caslon 224