Calouste Gulbenkian, a discovery! He was Armenian; made his money in the oil industry (he was known as “Mr. 5 per Cent”) because that is how much he owned of the Turkish Petroleum Company which he had created with a few friends. His fortune allowed him to collect – a passion of his – through his life. When he died in 1955 – he had moved to Lisbon in the 40’s; no doubt that the city and its river reminded him of his youth’s Istanbul! – his art collection (and fortune) went to the Foundation he had set up before, and shortly after his death, the decision was made to lodge the collection in a new museum which was inaugurated in 1969. I must admit. I did not know Gulbenkian, a much more discreet tycoon than the Americans Howard Hughes or John D. Rockefeller! (See the book published by the Foundation in 2012 on Gulbenkian, The man and his Work).
It’s quite an eclectic collection! – ranging from early Egyptian and Greek artifacts to Lallique’s jewelry, and it includes considerable works from Islamic (mainly Turkish) origin as well as from the Orient (Japan and China); not to mention the enormous collection of western paintings (several depicting Venice, by Corot and Sargent among others; of note equally, Turner and a series of 18th and19th century French painters e.g. Fragonard – see the little booklet entitled The Director’s Choice published in 2011).
And the admirable surrounding gardens (quite fitting considering Gulbenkian's love for nature)...
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Could not resist, and got for Cynthia the catalogue of an exhibition that took place in 2006 at the museum on the “Art of the Book”, entitled “From Paris to Tokyo” – she is such a “lover” of books!
(Writing this while listening/watching a DVD on Mariza Terra, singing Fado songs in concert – an obviously well celebrated Portuguese singer – blond, very thin and tall!
Lisboa, February 14, 2013
