Storied collector’s trove of masterpieces
The Museu Calouste Gulbenkian is a lasting tribute to the eclectic art collector Calouste Gulbenkian. Housed in a complex of modern buildings, the museum is the first example of 20th-century architecture in Portugal to be classified as a National Monument. It is organized around two gardens and its ample windows enable visitors to enjoy the integration of nature and art. The museum’s spectacular collections of fine and decorative arts, ranging from Ancient Egypt to 20th-century Europe, reflect the refined taste of Gulbenkian as a collector. Highlights include masterpieces by Rembrandt, Rubens, Turner, Degas, Manet and Monet; furniture by Charles Cressent; silverwork by François-Thomas Germain; and a superb ensemble of jewelry by René Lalique. The museum’s holdings also include rare objects from Egypt, Greece, Persia, Turkey and Mughal, India.
