Calouste Gulbenkian Collection

This group of varied pieces documents the artistic periods that most marked Egyptian civilization from the Old Empire to the Roman Era.

Calouste Gulbenkian's interest in artistic production from Persia, Turkey, Syria, the Caucasus and India, dating from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries, is very much in evidence here. The numerous objects on display include carpets, fabrics, illuminated manuscripts, book bindings, mosque lamps, painted tiles and ceramics, namely from Iznik.

This small ensemble is essentially made up of illuminated parchments from the 16th – 17th centuries; manuscripts with the liturgical gospels, showing the great interest the collector had in his Armenian origins.

Important section with porcelain and hard stone from China and Japan lacquer .

The main centres of artistic production from the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries are represented by the work of such artists as Lochner, Van der Weyden, Bouts, Ghirlandaio, Moroni, Frans Hals, Ruisdael, Rubens and Rembrandt. Eighteenth-century French painting is in turn represented by the work of Largillière, Boucher, Hubert Robert, Fragonard, Lépicié, Nattier and Quentin de La Tour.The eighteenth century is also represented by an area devoted to the work of the Venetian painter Francesco Guardi, while another area brings together English painters such as Lawrence and Gainsborough. Nineteenth-century English painting is in turn represented by the work of Turner and Burne-Jones.The section of nineteenth-century French painting includes work by Corot, Millet, Rousseau and Fantin-Latour, as well as that of Manet, Dégas, Renoir and Monet

The section of European sculpture includes pieces from the Middle Ages until the nineteenth century. The delicate image of the Virgin and Child, attributed to Jean de Liège, who worked for the French king Charles V, dates from the Middle Ages, while the works attributed to Antonio Rosselino and Andrea della Robbia stand out among the Renaissance collection. The same period is also represented by a significant collection of medals that includes a substantial nucleus of work by Pisanello. Eighteenth-century French sculpture includes work by Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Pigalle, Caffieri and Houdon, the artist who producedDiana.The nineteenth-century’s artistic vision of sculpture is emphasised in the Gulbenkian Collection by the inclusion of work by Carpeaux, Barye, Dalou and Rodin.

The European decorative arts section is introduced by sixteenth-century tapestries from Flanders and Italy.Outstanding 18th century French works include Gobelins, Beauvais and Aubusson tapestries, very fine sets of furniture dating from the time of the Regency, Louis XV and Louis XVI, made by Cressent, Oeben, Riesener, Jacob, Carlin and Sené. Also on display are pieces in silver or gold by the best French craftsmen such as F.-T. Germain, Duran, Lehendrick, Roettiers and Auguste.

This group of works includes a series of illuminated manuscripts, printed books and bindings produced between the 13th century and the first half of the 20th century at the most important centres in Europe. Made up of rare, precious and unique collectors’ editions, the books from Calouste Gulbenkian’s library are exhibited in very limited numbers in order to ensure that they are carefully preserved.

The collection of works by René Lalique (1860-1945) is quite exceptional for the quality of the jewellery and other objects, particularly the glass, which, because of its quality and consistency is considered to be quite unique.