Lisbon - Day 5 - Gulbenkian Museum

Our day 5 was Nathan's last day. Unfortunately staff travel hadn't been able to book us back on the same day, so I was going to stay for a day longer. We started our last day together at the Museo Calouste Gulbenkian.

This museum is based on the private collections of Calouste Gulbenkian, who was an Armenian who came to Lisbon during WWII. He made his fortune in the oil industry, and he stipulated that this foundation should be set up in Portugal to look after his vast collection, and support the arts.

At the moment they had a temporary exhibition called Splendour in Venice. From Canaletto to Guardi, about 18th century Venetian painting, which is where we got recommended to start:

We have previously had some of these vedute displayed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and I was always so fascinated by the details and the splendor of these urban views. My longing to go visit these places just grows stronger! I have yet to see Venice for real.

Then we continued to the space with the Founder's Collection, spanning over 5,000 years of art history and accommodating around 6,000 pieces. This is one of the most important private collections of international art there is.

Portrait of Camille Monet, 1872-74, by Renoir. I love this painting! The way she is positioned in diagonal, so chill!

Flora, 1873, by Carpeaux; and Diana, 1780, by Houdon.

The Winter, 1868, by Millet, an artist we talk a lot about during our tours at the museum because of the role he played in developing the new naturalism. I personally have always liked snowy paintings, they feel a bit melancholic and infinitely beautiful at the same time.

Secretary, bookshelf and office, 1762-65, by Garnier.

They had a whole room of mosque lamps! I guess these Mamluk mosque lamps are considered to be one of Islam's main contributions to the art of glass; but still, I do prefer the way we display the artwork in Louvre Abu Dhabi - in a more universal context.
Visiting other museums always make me appreciate our narrative, and make me proud that the Louvre Abu Dhabi is so unique in the way the collections are curated and presented.

The Gulbenkian Foundation also features the Modern Collection, established after the death of Gulbenkian. This is housed in another, very cool building, designed by Kengo Kuma, a Japanese architect.

The collection here consists of works produced from early 20th century to present day, with a focus on modern Portuguese art.

A nice morning!

We then walked to a shopping mall to meet Andrew again for a coffee, and a spot of Christmas shopping, before we Ubered back to the hotel.
In the evening, we finally went across the street to the Craft Beer place Nathan had eyed up since we got there.

Then we had dinner in a pasta restaurant just around the corner, for our last meal. It was really lovely, some snacks and cocktails to start, and in-house handmade pasta.

And since I didn't want to go back to the Craft Beer bar after dinner, Nathan got some beers to go.., ha ha!