Berardo Collection Museum - One Man’s Personal Art Collection

Reclining Figure: Arched Leg 4/6, Henry Moore, 1969-1970

“Sculpture is an art of the open air. Daylight, sunlight is necessary to it and for me, its best setting and complement is nature.” - Henry Moore

One of the most impressive museums in Portugal is the Berardo Collection Museum in Belém, a short train or tram ride from the center of Lisbon. The permanent exhibition at the museum is the private collection of one man, José Manuel Rodrigues Berardo. It includes works by the likes of Picasso, Mondrian, Magritte, Warhol among others. An afternoon at this museum is merely an introduction to the Berardo Collection. You’ll want to return and appreciate the works on display at a leisurely pace. Entrance is free on Saturdays.

This is a late post. These few images of the artworks presented here were taken during my visit to Portugal in April 2016. I’ve arranged them in chronological order except for the Henry Moore outdoor sculpture because this image gives a perspective of the museum building (facing away from the main avenue) and the garden. Some artists belong to several artistic movements like Man Ray whose works show the influences of Dadaism and Surrealism. I’ve also added quotes attributed to the artists to gain insight to their thoughts about their works or art in general.

Tête de Femme, Pablo Picasso, 1909

Pablo Picasso. Artistic Movement: Cubism

“I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them.” - Picasso

Tête de jeune fille à la frange, Amedeo Modigliani, 1910-1921

Artistic Movement: Expressionism
“When I know your soul, I will paint your eyes.” - Modigliani

Tableau with Yellow, Black, Blue, Grey, Piet Mondrian, 1923

Artistic movement: De Stijl or Neoplasticism
"Vertical and horizontal lines are the expression of two opposing forces; they exist everywhere and dominate everything; their reciprocal action constitutes ‘life’. I recognized that the equilibrium of any particular aspect of nature rests on the equivalence of its opposites.” - Mondrian

Le Gouffre Argenté, René Magritte, 1926

Artistic Movement: Surrealism

“It is not my intention to make anything comprehensible. I am of the opinion that there are sufficient paintings which one understands after a shorter or longer delay, and that therefore some incomprehensible painting would now be welcome. I am at pains to deliver such, as far as possible.” - Magritte

Coquille Fleurs, Max Ernst, 1929

Artistic Movement: Surrealism

“Art has nothing to do with taste. Art is not there to be tasted.” - Ernst

Relief: Rhythms, 1932, Robert Delaunay

Artistic Movement: Abstraction between WWI and WWII

“Impressionism: it is the birth of light in the painting.” - Delaunay

Café Man Ray, Man Ray, 1948

Artistic Movement: Dada

“I believe in the relation between photography and music and that’s my inspiration.” - Man Ray

Untitled, Willem de Kooning, 1976

Artistic Movement: Abstract Expressionism

“I don’t paint to live; I live to paint.” - de Kooning

Mire G42 (Kowloon), Jean Dubuffet, 1983

Artistic Movement: Art Brut, Hourloupe

“There is no art without intoxication. But I mean a mad intoxication! Let reason teeter! Delirium! The highest degree of delirium! Plunged in burning dementia! Art is the most enrapturing orgy within man’s reach...art must make you laugh a little and make you a little afraid. Anything as long as it doesn’t bore.” - Dubuffet

How to get there:

Berardo Museum

Praça do Imperio, Belém

Free admission on Saturdays

www.museoberardo.pt

Take tram #15 or 15E headed for Algés from Praça de Figueira (near Rossio) and get off at Jerónimos Monastery. Or take the train to Cascais from Cais do Sodré station and get off at Belém stop. The museum is on the same side as the monastery.

*****

Images by TravelswithCharie

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