THE LAST CONNOISSEUR: The Calouste Gulbenkian Collection in Lisbon with Sylvia Sagona

Born in Istanbul in 1869, this fascinating London educated, French speaking Armenian diplomat played a major role in the founding of the Royal Dutch/Shell, Iraq and Turkish Petroleum Companies at the time of the dismantling of the Ottoman Empire. 

Moving seamlessly from one culture to another, he used his immense wealth to amass what is considered to be one of the greatest private collections in the world, now housed in Lisbon, Portugal, where he died.

This all encompassing eclectic collection which we will investigate is particularly strong in Art Nouveau jewellery and glass, 19th century painting and Classical antiquities.

Sylvia Sagona is Fellow of the School of Languages at the University of Melbourne (Department of French, Italian and French Studies) and specialises in 19th century French art and society.