Description of the attraction
The Granu Vascu Art Museum is located next to the Viseu Cathedral, in a renovated former 16th century bishop's palace. In the episcopal palace at that time there was also a college-seminary, because in the 16th century Catholic priests were obliged to educate young people and therefore you can very often hear that this museum is located in an old seminary.
The Episcopal Palace has been under construction over the years. The museum was founded in 1916 and was named after the famous Portuguese painting master of the Renaissance era Vascu Fernandes, also known as Granu Vascu. Under his leadership, a painting school was opened in Viseu. The museum's collection is based on paintings by Granu Vascu and other artists, collected by the collector Almeida Moreira.
The main exhibits of the museum are the altarpieces, which were created specifically for the Viseu Cathedral. Among these works is the main altar, which was created by the then aspiring artist Vascu Fernandes. The altars of the later period of Vascu Fernandes' work are also exhibited. Some of these altars were made by Vascu Fernandes together with Gaspar Vashem, his first disciple. Also among the exhibits there are sculptural works, decorative art objects, artistic metal products, paintings by Portuguese artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. Among the exhibits are items for the service of the liturgy, jewelry, paintings and sculptures. Part of the collection contains porcelain and earthenware works by Portuguese craftsmen, as well as pieces of antique furniture.
From 2001 to 2003 the museum was closed for reconstruction, and in 2004 it reopened its doors to visitors.
