Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

• Part of the acclaimed Director’s Choice Series
• A personal and engaging guide with a unique approach to the works in one of the finest private art collections

The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon houses one of the world’s finest private art collections, amassed over a lifetime by oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian, one of the 20th century’s wealthiest men. Gulbenkian’s motto was ‘only the best’ which is mirrored in a magnificent collection of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, Asian and European art, comprising some 6,000 treasures. When the museum opened in 1969, Gulbenkian’s wish that all his exhibits from around the world should be accommodated under one roof came true. João Castel-Branco Pereira offers us his personal selection from this extraordinarily rich collection, explaining the reasons for his choices.

João Castel-Branco Pereira has been Director of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum since 1998. Prior to that, he was Curator of the Museu Nacional dos Coches and Director of the Museu Nacional do Azulejo, both in Lisbon.