The extensive and eclectic collection housed in the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum was amassed by Calouste Gulbenkian throughout his lifetime. Gulbenkian was a British-Armenian businessman, born in Istanbul in 1869, who lived an eventful life in Baku, London, Paris, Marseille and Lisbon. He was well-educated and worked in the field of oil exploration and extraction, which made him extremely wealthy. Gulbenkian was also a philanthropist, helping charitable organisations and establishing many hospitals and schools during his lifetime.
His legacy is the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, which was created after his death at his bequest. The foundation promotes and supports the arts, education and science to this day. Another great legacy was his private art collection, which is exhibited in a brutalist building surrounded by parkland in the heart of Lisbon.
The building housing the treasures of the Calouste Gulbenkian Collection enhances the visitor experience by displaying the art in the framework of the modern backdrop. The design brings the outside in very successfully, giving further contrast and context to the sculptures, paintings and decorative artworks on display. Among the highlights you’ll see in the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum are works by Manet, Degas, Rembrandt, Rubens, Fragonard and Lalique.
