Look at him

The collection features a number of notable portraits by José Malhoa (1855-1933), such as the portrait of Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves, painted in the same year the physician bought the former Malhoa House (as it had been the artist's home and studio, from 1904 until 1919), which turned to be the Anastácio Gonçalves' House Museum.

Look in the eyes of this very well informed collector and traveller.

A decade after his death, José Malhoa (1855-1933) was considered to be the painter of his time who expressed the Portuguese popular feelings - especially in its rural living - in the most real way, as well as to be the portraitist of the urban ascending bourgeoisie.

The singular look of an unidentified man.

André-Joseph Bodem (Paris, 1791- ?) painted this portrait, possibly in Brazil. Acording to the inscription on its back, this is the portrait of the physician Dr. Joaquim José de Sousa Campos doctor of the ship in which King Dom John VIth sailed from Portugal to Brazil in 1808, due to the Napoleon's invasion.

There are no documents confirming the inscription.

Francisco Metrass (1825-1861) painted this Bust of an old man reading, who seems to emanate from the spirituality of religious scenes, plastically concentrating the observer's attention on the link of his own identity, that is, his own face. It turns out that the painter uses his romantic spirituality.

The old man has the serenity of a scholar and his outward signs of age are associated with the tranquility of his wisdom.

Columbano's (1857-1929) portraits are a reference on Portuguese Painting. The models were captured in the modest reserve of their existences, overlapping the inner affirmation, psychological, and the convenient social posture. His nephew, Manuel Gustavo Bordalo Pinheiro, was one of Columbano's family members who frequentley inhabited the painter's works, mostly interested in an urban indoors culture, as this Difficult trial.

In Difficult trial, Columbano turns the action of playing the piano, attentive attitude of the portrayed and its plastic treatment into the main theme of the painting.