It is located on Rua de Dom Manuel II, parish of Miragaia, in the city of Porto, northern Portugal.
History of the Soares dos Reis National Museum in Porto
The National Museum of Soares dos Reis, formerly the Portuense Museum, was born in 1833 when D. Pedro IV decided to create a Museum of Paintings and Prints in Porto.
The "Carrancas" palace was owned by Manuel Mendes de Morais e Castro, a new Christian, although this status as a convert to Christianity who had the royal privilege of manufacturing gold gallons and carried out his commercial activity for the Kingdom of Portugal has been contested.
The Portuense Museum, also known as Ateneu D. Pedro IV, was officially organized between the 9th and 11th of April 1833 on the initiative of the regent D. Pedro, Duke of Bragança.
The museum was first installed in the Convento de Santo António da Cidade building, currently the building of the Porto Municipal Public Library in Santo Ildefonso.
The museum's permanent exhibition gallery occupied the former refectory of the Capuchin monks located on the ground floor of the building, and on the upper floor there was a room intended for study and temporary exhibitions.
In 1911, republican reforms took place and it was now called Museu Soares dos Reis and acquired the status of National Museum (1932).
Initially installed in the building of the Convent of Santo António da Cidade, from 1940 onwards it occupied the Palácio dos Carrancas, a bourgeois building from the end of the 18th century and later the Royal Palace and was subject to extensive renovation and expansion according to a project by architect Fernando Távora, and reopened to the public in July 2001.
The Palácio dos Carrancas was sold to Santa Casa da Misericórdia in 1940, and the State acquired the Palácio dos Carrancas from Santa Casa de Misericórdia, to which the commitment of its then director Vasco Valente contributed greatly.
The "Carrancas" palace was owned by Manuel Mendes de Morais e Castro, a new Christian, although this status as a convert to Christianity who had the royal privilege of manufacturing gold gallons and carried out his commercial activity for the Kingdom of Portugal has been contested.
The Portuense Museum, also known as Ateneu D. Pedro IV, was officially organized between the 9th and 11th of April 1833 on the initiative of the regent D. Pedro, Duke of Bragança.
The museum was first installed in the Convento de Santo António da Cidade building, currently the building of the Porto Municipal Public Library in Santo Ildefonso.
The museum's permanent exhibition gallery occupied the former refectory of the Capuchin monks located on the ground floor of the building, and on the upper floor there was a room intended for study and temporary exhibitions.
In 1911, republican reforms took place and it was now called Museu Soares dos Reis and acquired the status of National Museum (1932).
Initially installed in the building of the Convent of Santo António da Cidade, from 1940 onwards it occupied the Palácio dos Carrancas, a bourgeois building from the end of the 18th century and later the Royal Palace and was subject to extensive renovation and expansion according to a project by architect Fernando Távora, and reopened to the public in July 2001.
The Palácio dos Carrancas was sold to Santa Casa da Misericórdia in 1940, and the State acquired the Palácio dos Carrancas from Santa Casa de Misericórdia, to which the commitment of its then director Vasco Valente contributed greatly.
The renovations of the National Museum of Soares dos Reis in Porto
The remodeling of the new building designed by engineer Fernandes de Sá was inaugurated in 1942.
The Museum was the subject of a profound renovation and expansion intervention, according to a project by architect Fernando Távora, who, while preserving the characteristics of the historic building, provided it with new and qualified interior and exterior spaces.
At the time, the most notable changes consisted of: a gallery with overhead lighting intended for painting, and the creation of another sculpture gallery to house the work of Soares dos Reis.
In 1940-42, the Museum was enriched with the deposit of collections from the Municipal Museum of Porto, and became a mixed museum incorporating the so-called decorative arts that suited an industrial Porto.
In the 1950s, under the direction of sculptor Salvador Barata Feyo, the Museum acquired works of painting and sculpture from young artists.
The Museum was the subject of a profound renovation and expansion intervention, according to a project by architect Fernando Távora, who, while preserving the characteristics of the historic building, provided it with new and qualified interior and exterior spaces.
At the time, the most notable changes consisted of: a gallery with overhead lighting intended for painting, and the creation of another sculpture gallery to house the work of Soares dos Reis.
In 1940-42, the Museum was enriched with the deposit of collections from the Municipal Museum of Porto, and became a mixed museum incorporating the so-called decorative arts that suited an industrial Porto.
In the 1950s, under the direction of sculptor Salvador Barata Feyo, the Museum acquired works of painting and sculpture from young artists.
Currently the National Museum of Soares dos Reis in Porto is in the Palácio dos Carrancas
It has been installed since 1940 in the Palácio dos Carrancas, which was built at the end of the 18th century by a wealthy family from Porto, and is currently classified as a property of public interest.
The National Museum of Soares dos Reis is located in the Palácio dos Carrancas, but has undergone several adaptations for this new function.
To the left is the Museum Store, where you can find publications as well as replicas or objects inspired by pieces from the collections of the IMC Museums and Palaces.
The Museum has a cafeteria, library, education service and multimedia room, Temporary Museum Exhibition rooms, the first floor of the building is dedicated to painting and sculpture exhibitions.
In 1992, following the creation of the Portuguese Institute of Museums, the Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis began a remodeling and expansion project designed by architect Fernando Távora, completed in 2001.
The Museum has collections of ceramics, sculpture, engraving, jewelry, furniture, goldsmithing, painting, textiles and glass, with emphasis on the “Desterrado” masterpiece by the museum’s patron, the sculptor António Soares dos Reis.
The museum's collection has more than 13,000 pieces, of which around 3,000 correspond to drawings and paintings, collections of sculpture, engraving, decorative arts (furniture, earthenware, porcelain, glass, goldsmithing, jewelry, textiles) and archaeological collections.
The National Museum of Soares dos Reis is located in the Palácio dos Carrancas, but has undergone several adaptations for this new function.
To the left is the Museum Store, where you can find publications as well as replicas or objects inspired by pieces from the collections of the IMC Museums and Palaces.
The Museum has a cafeteria, library, education service and multimedia room, Temporary Museum Exhibition rooms, the first floor of the building is dedicated to painting and sculpture exhibitions.
In 1992, following the creation of the Portuguese Institute of Museums, the Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis began a remodeling and expansion project designed by architect Fernando Távora, completed in 2001.
The Museum has collections of ceramics, sculpture, engraving, jewelry, furniture, goldsmithing, painting, textiles and glass, with emphasis on the “Desterrado” masterpiece by the museum’s patron, the sculptor António Soares dos Reis.
The museum's collection has more than 13,000 pieces, of which around 3,000 correspond to drawings and paintings, collections of sculpture, engraving, decorative arts (furniture, earthenware, porcelain, glass, goldsmithing, jewelry, textiles) and archaeological collections.
