Travels with a Curator: Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon

In this episode of “Travels with a Curator,” Curator Aimee Ng takes viewers on a journey to Lisbon's Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, the home of an extraordinary private collection that, like the Frick, was made available for the enjoyment of the public after the collector’s death. This is a museum about discovery and movement, a place of marvelous encounters between the Old Masters and modernist architecture. Peek inside this spectacular museum-you may recognize a certain marble sculpture whose terracotta sister resides at the Frick.

[@KTR2022]

This is a great museum and I highly recommend it, a must-see in Lisbon! I am Portuguese and this is my favourite museum/cultural foundation in Portugal. For those who don't know, the Calouste Gulbenkian foundation is very important to Portugal. In the 1950's/1960's when Portugal was under a fascist dictatorship the foundation hit the road with library trucks and roamed the poorest areas of the country to bring books (even books banned by the regime) to the most deprived people and children , most, if not all of them had none or very little schooling. Many of us owe our reading skills and our education to its people. Thanks for the lecture on this amazing institution that so selflessly shares art, culture and resilience with Portugal and the world.

[@emrya650]

What a terrific introduction to the Gulbenkian. I am enjoying Travels and Cocktails with a Curator so much! Thank you Ms. Ng.

[@janlivingston9839]

Thank you for your fascinating presentation on the Gulbenkian Museum

[@beverlyfletcher4458]

Frick, Gulbenkian, only names to me up 'til now. Can't wait to see this museum! Thank you.

[@michaelbaenen2388]

The Gulbenkian is one of the most remarkable museums I know. Not huge, but works of the highest quality-a slightly idiosyncratic collection of collections, really. The Islamic art is exceptional, especially the carpets and textiles. And the building is really rather deferential and shows the art well. Though not highlighted here, the gardens are magnificent too. I hope to go back someday when we can all travel again....

[@nicolettaforatti3160]

Utterly engaging, one of my favorite museums in the world

[@jimfleckenstein4763]

A wonderful, elucidating and enthusiastic presentation! I had been planning a trip to Portugal later this year (now, unfortunately, very much in question) but will now, thanks to Aimee and The Frick, be certain to include this seemingly extraordinary museum to my time in Lisbon. THANK YOU for this episode and this marvelous "Travels with a Curator" series!

[@yedafeio257]

The Gulbenkian is wonderful for many reasons, one of them the amazing collection of Art Nouveau jewelry she didn´t even mentioned.

[@dawnjackson1802]

Nothing I have seen surpasses The Frick. However, the more time one has to learn and appreciate art, the more the pieces of historical beauty can be understood, the enjoyment is exponential. The Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon is astounding but the few tourist hours cannot do it justice. These lectures are invaluable to prepare for a visit or to enhance a visit which was too short. Thank you Aimee Ng. I’m sure you would like to visit the Gulbenkian again and lengthen your presentation. Elizabeth 🇨🇦

[@carlalord8420]

Nice to have a variety of curators speak for the Frick. An informative talk both about the collector, the housing and landscaping , as well as some of the Gulbenkian paintings and sculptures, as compared with the scale of the Frick.

[@andrewnogal3987]

This fantastic video makes me so eager and excited to visit the Gulbenkian someday! Unlike some of the other commenters, I believe this collection looks wonderful in its modernist, minimalist home. Thanks for your palpable enthusiasm for your subject, Aimee!

[@maomaoj]

Thank you very much, Frick Museum, this episode brings me back the very nice memory of this museum and gives me the interesting and informative background knowledge. Most obliged.

[@ritabiro5105]

Thanks it was nice and interesring pitty havent been in Lisbonne

[@bernards269]

Aimee, that was a wonderful visit. We’ve been there many times but you brought a new perspective to us and made us very nostalgic and keen to go back. Thank you so much, from England.

[@dottiejeffries939]

Such a superb and well done segment. Thought I've been to Portugal, I have never heard before of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon..Absolutely fascinating. Thank you. Thank you. When I return to Portugal, I'll venture to Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon,.

[@makiliv]

Will need to return to Lisbon with the knowledge gained through this lovely presentation. As always, a wonderful array of intersecting storylines with an engaging narrative. Thank you, Aimee!

[@pattersondsmccd]

Never even HEARD of this museum or man...Thank you! Makes me wonder how many other museums are out there that are completely unknown to me! I'm oddly buoyed by the thought of my ignorance! 😃

[@cable57]

A delight and completely new to me.

[@Weesperbuurt]

Wonderful...thank you!

[@carolynturvey5411]

Excellent presentation. I would love a follow-up presentation discussing some of the decorative arts objects in this museum. The last photo you showed with rugs? tapestries? I am not sure what they were but they were gorgeous and I would love to know more about them. Terrific topic and discussion.

[@martasampaio9134]

Yes Carolyn, the Gulbenkian museum as some good, historically interesting rugs (Persian, Turkish, French (XVIII c.) and some good tapestries as the charming Children's Play Tapestry (ca 1540) , designed by Giulio Romano for cardinal Ercole Gonzaga, to the Palazzo Te in Mantua; the Flemish and French ones by Pillement or Boucher are interesting as well (even if I, personally, don't appreciate much the XVIII c. in the decorative arts...too mundane!). I leave here the museum's website, but probably the best way to take a look is the Virtual Tour (the art of the islamic east is right at the beginning, after the two or three rooms of egypcian and greek and roman art): gulbenkian.pt/museu/en/collections/virtual-tour/ . Museum: gulbenkian.pt/museu/en/the-founders-collection/discover-the-collection/. The wikimedia has lots of pictures as well: TEXTILES: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Textiles_in_the_Calouste_Gulbenkian_Museum. RUGS: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rugs_and_carpets_in_the_Calouste_Gulbenkian_Museum. Good viewings, Isabel

[@diomarisumagaysay]

Spectacular

[@brynmawr27]

Bravo!

[@Atravels]

Amazing really good also check our videos

[@walterparsons6999]

Architect?

[@cruzdru]

Ruy Jervis dAthougia, Pedro Cid and Alberto Pessoa.

[@jillandjeffreysmart3799]

&.

[@meggallucci5300]

Not quite grasping the marvelous connection between god awful brutalist architecture and exhibiting a fine Rubens. Maybe because the eye ignores a bland cement wall in favor of the Rubens? Good historical analysis though, if a bit too long. Hope to visit someday.

[@manuelgalego9592]

First it is not god awful brutalist architecture. It is in fact a rather marvelous building. Maybe you will understand when you visit.

[@sUi5Udos]

What an absolute travesty to display this magnificent collection in that ugly Brutalist building. It is clear from the photographs of his house in Paris and from his mansion in Lisbon that he preferred to display his collection in period interiors.

[@nflmpx]

He had no mansion in Lisbon. Calouste Gulbenkian lived in a hotel until his death.