Árpád Szenes Foundation - Vieira da Silva

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Rato

Location

The Árpád Szenes, Vieira da Silva Foundation is located in the Rato area of Lisbon. It is integrated into Praça das Amoreiras, a square with historical and architectural significance. Its location allows visitors to observe elements such as parts of the old Águas Livres Aqueduct and the Mãe d'Água structure, which complement the foundation's urban surroundings.

The Focus on Art

This institution's primary mission is to introduce and deepen the study of the work of two central figures in plastic arts: Arpad Szenes and Maria Helena Vieira da Silva. To this end, it provides a museum space with a significant collection dedicated to these artists. The collection covers a vast period of their production, with paintings and drawings that show the evolution of their work over decades.

It also features a specific nucleus of engravings by Vieira da Silva, offering a perspective on different phases of her artistic creation.

A Building with History

The Foundation is housed in a building that was once the Royal Silk Fabric Factory of Lisbon. This 18th-century building was adapted and restored to house the exhibition space and documentation center. Its original architecture, featuring elements such as high ceilings and wooden beams, offers a unique atmosphere for contemplating the artworks.

The building recently underwent a renovation process, reopening with improvements aimed at optimizing the visitor experience and the conservation of the collection.

Exhibitions and Artistic Context

In addition to presenting the permanent collection of Árpád Szenes and Vieira da Silva, the Foundation enlivens its program with temporary exhibitions. These exhibitions seek to establish dialogues between the patrons' work and that of other artists, both Portuguese and international, who share affinities or help situate their work within the modern art landscape. This approach allows visitors to follow trends and understand influences in the journey of the honored artists.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt