National Museum of Ancient Art
The Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga ( MNAA; German: National Museum of Ancient Art ) is a museum in Lisbon. It is considered one of the most important museums of Portugal.
History
After the works of art of many churches and monasteries scattered far since the secularization in 1834 and were partially destroyed in 1882 a retrospective of Portuguese and Spanish decorative art was created. The exhibition was shown in the Alvor Palace and was a great success. The Portuguese government then decided to merge the state stocks for a permanent exhibition at the Alvor Palace. In 1884, the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga was officially opened.
Starting point of the collection were the objects in the exhibition of 1882. According to the proclamation of the Republic in 1910, the collection was expanded to include large inventories from the property of the royal family. Since then, the collection grew to by gifts and donations continue.
1893, the archaeological collections were outsourced, which are now on display at the Museu Nacional de Archeology. 1911 contemporary art was handed over to the newly founded Museu do Chiado.
Collection
A major focus of the collection are works by Portuguese artists. A masterpiece is probably the resultant 1450-1460 Vinzenz - altar by Nuno Gonçalves, which consists of six panels with a total of 60 portraits. Other significant Portuguese Jorge Afonso and Vasco Fernandes are also represented in the collection.
In addition to the Portuguese artists also establish numerous other artists the reputation of the museum. From Hieronymus Bosch, the Temptation of St. Anthony is seen by Albrecht Dürer Saint Jerome. Also represented are, for example, Pieter Brueghel the Younger, Piero della Francesca, Jan Gossaert, Hans Holbein the Elder, Pieter de Hooch, Quentin Matsys, Hans Memling, Raphael, Diego Velázquez and Francisco de Zurbarán.
In addition to the art collection, the museum contains sculptures from seven centuries. In addition masterpieces of gold and silversmithing are shown. A poet Gil Vicente attributed Goldmonstranz with enamel inlays to have been made from the first gold that brought Vasco da Gama from India to Portugal. The glass and ceramic collections include Erststücke of Vista Alegre porcelain.
Building
The museum is located above the Tagus riverside road from downtown Lisbon to Belém. The building was built in the 17th century and served as the Count of Alvor seat Later the building was owned by the brother of the Marquês de Pombal. 1918, the ruins of the adjacent St. Albert monastery were demolished and built there an extension to the Alvor Palace, which is now also used together with the surviving Baroque chapel from the museum. Today's main entrance is located in this building on the monastery grounds. Only this new building has two upper floors, in which parts of the permanent exhibition can be seen. Under the old Alvor Palace there is a basement, where the museum restaurant, auditorium and rooms for temporary exhibitions are located.