Description of the attraction
Chiado is not only one of the oldest districts of Lisbon, but also the intellectual center of the city, which houses many galleries, theaters, pottery and other workshops, books and antique shops. The Chiado Museum, also called the National Gallery of Modern Art, shows visitors a collection of Portuguese contemporary art from the 19th and 20th centuries. Previously, the building housed a Franciscan monastery, which was destroyed during the Lisbon earthquake in 1755. The building was empty for a long time. The Chiado Museum was founded in 1911 by a government decree. In 1988, there was a massive fire in Chiado that destroyed many buildings in the area, including this museum. The building was restored, with the participation of the French architect Jean-Michel Vilmot. And in 1994 the museum was reopened.
The permanent collection of the museum is divided into thematic exhibitions. Paintings and sculptures illustrate the development of art from romanticism to modernism. Most of the works on display are the creations of Portuguese masters, but the collection also includes sculptural works from the late 19th century from France, as well as several works by Rodin. Other eye-catching exhibits include a self-portrait by Portuguese artist Columbán Bordal Pinheiro, who served as director of the Chiado Museum from 1914 to 1927, and two art deco diptychs by Portuguese modernist Almada Negreiroş. Temporary exhibitions are held in a separate hall of the museum.
In 1996, the museum was awarded an award at the European Festival of Museums.
