Origins and History of the Museum
The Museu Militar de Lisboa is a Portuguese Army museum unit located in Lisbon, Portugal. Situated at Largo dos Caminhos de Ferro, directly in front of the Santa Apolónia Station, the institution occupies a significant position within the city's historical landscape. It is one of the oldest museums in Lisbon and holds the distinction of being the largest military museum in Portugal.
The foundation of the museum's holdings traces back to 1842, when the collection was first formed by Barão de Monte Pedral. Following this initial assembly, the museum was officially inaugurated on December 10, 1851. The institution has maintained its role in preserving military history through various administrative evolutions, transitioning from its earlier designation as the Museu de Artilharia to its current name.
The Building and Its Architecture
The museum occupies the former Real Arsenal do Exército, situated in the eastern zone of Lisbon. This site holds significant historical layers, having been the location of the 'Tercenas das Portas da Cruz' built about 1488. The architectural complex once housed workshops dedicated to the manufacture of gunpowder. These industrial origins are reflected in the functional layout of the site, which has evolved from a military production center into its current institutional form.
The structure is classified as Imóvel de Interesse Público, a designation it has held since 1963. The physical space includes a cannon courtyard and various exhibition rooms that were decorated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to accommodate the growing collection. These interior spaces were designed to integrate military artifacts with fine art, featuring interventions by several prominent artists of the period.
Major Collections and Exhibits
The museum holds approximately 26,000 pieces that trace the technical and material evolution of warfare. The collection follows the development of weaponry from flint blades to spears and guns. A dedicated section of Portuguese artillery is a central component of the holdings, complemented by a room containing various miniature pieces.
The courtyard, flanked by cannons, features twenty-six tile panels that depict Portuguese history. These panels provide a visual chronology alongside the physical artifacts. In the Sala dos Gessos, the museum maintains a collection of various molds used for statuary of relevant Portuguese figures.
- Coronation of King João IV, 1908 - Veloso Salgado
- Acclamation of King John IV of Portugal by Veloso Salgado, 1908 - Veloso Salgado
- The Old Man of the Restelo, 1904 - Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro
- Tragedy of Inês de Castro, 1901 - Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro
- Island of Love, 1908 - José Malhoa
- The Motherland Crowning Her Heroes, 1904 - Veloso Salgado
Masterpieces of the Collection
The museum holds a significant selection of Portuguese painting from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The collection includes works by Veloso Salgado, such as Coronation of King João IV, dated about 1908, and Acclamation of King John IV of Portugal, also from about 1908. Other notable paintings include The Old Man of the Restelo by Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, dated about 1904, and Tragedy of Inês de Castro, dated about 1901. The holdings also feature works by José Malhoa, specifically Island of Love from about 1908, as well as pieces by Adriano Sousa Lopes and Carlos Reis.
The sculptural holdings complement the pictorial works, featuring pieces by Delfim Maya, Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, and José Núncio. These works are situated within a space decorated with historical interventions. The museum's visual history is further articulated through twenty-six tile panels in the cannon courtyard, which depict Portuguese history from the Christian Reconquista to the First World War.
