Portalegre Tapestry Museum Guy Fino

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Portalegre > Portalegre > Portalegre > São Lourenço

Location

The museum is located in Portalegre, integrated within the urban area of São Lourenço. It is housed in a historic building, part of the city's fabric.

A Unique Artistic Heritage

This cultural space was established in 2001 with the purpose of preserving, studying, and showcasing the richness of Portalegre Tapestry. Recognized as an important part of Portuguese art, the tapestries produced here are distinguished by their technical and aesthetic uniqueness.

The museum pays tribute to Guy Fino, an essential figure in the foundation of the Portalegre Tapestry Manufactory, highlighting his role in the creation of this artistic expression, which began to take shape in the late 1940s.

The Art and the Technique

A visit to the museum allows one to discover two main aspects of Portalegre Tapestry. On the one hand, it is possible to learn about the Manufactory's historical journey and understand the technical methods that bring these textile works of art to life, from the initial thread to the finished tapestry. On the other hand, the museum presents a collection of finished tapestries, showcasing the artistic evolution from the early years to the most recent works.

Portalegre tapestries served as a medium for numerous artists, both Portuguese and foreign, who saw in this technique a particular way to express their creativity. The museum displays reproductions of works created from designs by names such as Almada Negreiros, Vieira da Silva, Júlio Pomar, or Jean Lurçat, among many others.

A Historic Building

The museum is housed in an old manor house that belonged to the Caldeira Castelo-Branco family. The entrance portal dates back to the 18th century, testifying to the building's antiquity and nobility. The adaptation into a museum respected the site's history, integrating modern architectural solutions in a balanced way to accommodate the collections and visitors.

Space for Contemporary Creation

In addition to the collection that presents the history and evolution of Portalegre Tapestry, the museum has a space dedicated to temporary exhibitions. This venue hosts initiatives related to tapestry and Plastic Arts, demonstrating the vitality and continuity of this art form in a contemporary context.

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