Within its walls, the museum’s permanent exhibition unfolds in two distinct yet interwoven narratives. The first circuit invites visitors to explore the splendors of Eastern and Classical art, encompassing Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Mesopotamian, Eastern Islamic, Armenian, and Far Eastern masterpieces. The second circuit is a voyage through European artistic heritage, offering an exquisite selection of illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, painting, and decorative arts, with a particular emphasis on 18th-century French refinement and the unparalleled creations of René Lalique.
From the delicate intricacies of medieval ivory carvings to the luminous landscapes of Venetian painter Francesco Guardi, from the elegance of 18th-century English portraiture to the breathtaking artistry of Lalique’s glass and jewelry, the museum weaves an unparalleled tapestry of human creativity. Each gallery, a passage through time; each artwork, a whisper of history.
The Gulbenkian Museum stands not only as a repository of artistic genius but as a living homage to the enduring power of beauty and knowledge.