# Calouste Gulbenkian

> Armenian businessman, art collector and philanthropist (1869-1955)

**Wikidata**: [Q345538](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q345538)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calouste_Gulbenkian)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/calouste-gulbenkian

## Summary
Calouste Gulbenkian was an Armenian businessman, art collector, and philanthropist (1869–1955) who amassed one of the most significant private art collections of the early 20th century. After his death, he bequeathed his collection to Portugal, establishing the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Museum in Lisbon, which houses over 6,000 works spanning ancient Egyptian art, Islamic art, European paintings, and decorative arts.

## Biography
- Born: March 23, 1869, in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), Ottoman Empire
- Nationality: Armenian (later naturalized in the Ottoman Empire, United Kingdom, and Portugal)
- Education: Studied at King's College London (1887–1891)
- Known for: Building one of the world's most important private art collections and establishing the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Portugal
- Employer(s): Iraq Petroleum Company (1925–1961), Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (founder)
- Field(s): Business, art collection, philanthropy

## Contributions
- **Art Collection**: Amassed a collection of over 6,000 works spanning ancient Egyptian art, Greek and Roman antiquities, Islamic art, European paintings, and decorative arts.
- **Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation**: Established in 1956 to manage his bequest, promoting the arts, philanthropy, science, and education.
- **Calouste Gulbenkian Museum**: Opened in 1969 in Lisbon, housing his collection and serving as a major cultural institution in Portugal.
- **Philanthropic Legacy**: Donated his entire estate to Portugal, including his art collection, which became the largest single cultural donation in Portuguese history.

## FAQs
**What was Calouste Gulbenkian's primary occupation?**
Calouste Gulbenkian was an Armenian businessman, art collector, and philanthropist who amassed one of the most significant private art collections of the early 20th century.

**Where did Calouste Gulbenkian study?**
He studied at King's College London from 1887 to 1891.

**What company did Calouste Gulbenkian work for?**
He worked for the Iraq Petroleum Company from 1925 to 1961.

**What is the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum?**
It is an art museum in Lisbon, Portugal, housing the personal collection of Calouste Gulbenkian, which includes over 6,000 works spanning ancient Egyptian art, Islamic art, European paintings, and decorative arts.

**What foundation did Calouste Gulbenkian establish?**
He established the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in 1956 to manage his bequest and promote the arts, philanthropy, science, and education.

## Why They Matter
Calouste Gulbenkian's contributions to art and philanthropy have had a lasting impact on Portugal and the global art world. His bequest of over 6,000 works to Portugal established the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, which has become one of the country's most visited cultural institutions. The foundation he created continues to support the arts, science, and education, enriching Portuguese culture and attracting international visitors. Gulbenkian's legacy represents the remarkable story of an Armenian businessman who became a global citizen, collecting art across cultures and continents before choosing Portugal as the permanent home for his collection. This decision has had lasting cultural and economic benefits for Portugal, establishing the country as a serious custodian of world art.

## Notable For
- Housing one of the most important private art collections in Europe, assembled by a single collector over more than 40 years.
- Containing works spanning over 4,000 years of art history, from ancient Egyptian to 20th-century European art.
- Being the primary cultural institution of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, one of Portugal's largest philanthropic organizations.
- Representing the largest bequest made by a private individual to Portugal in its history.
- Featuring works by renowned artists including Rembrandt, Rubens, Monet, Renoir, and numerous Old Masters.
- Maintaining one of the most significant collections of Islamic art in Europe.
- Operating as a major cultural destination in Lisbon, contributing to Portugal's tourism and cultural sectors.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Calouste Gulbenkian was born on March 23, 1869, in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), in the Ottoman Empire. He was of Armenian descent and studied at King's College London from 1887 to 1891. His education provided him with a strong foundation in business and commerce, which would later shape his career.

### Business Career
Gulbenkian's business career began in the Ottoman Empire, where he worked in various commercial ventures. He later moved to the United Kingdom and became involved in the oil industry. In 1925, he was appointed as the managing director of the Iraq Petroleum Company, a position he held until 1961. His tenure at the Iraq Petroleum Company was marked by significant contributions to the development of the oil industry in Iraq.

### Art Collection
Gulbenkian's passion for art began in his youth, and he spent decades amassing one of the most significant private art collections of the early 20th century. His collection included works from ancient Egyptian art, Greek and Roman antiquities, Islamic art, European paintings, and decorative arts. He acquired these works through dealers and auctions across Europe, reflecting his sophisticated taste and deep knowledge of art history.

### Philanthropy and Legacy
Upon Gulbenkian's death in 1955, his entire estate, including his art collection, was bequeathed to Portugal. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation was established in 1956 to manage this bequest and fulfill Gulbenkian's wishes to promote the arts, philanthropy, science, and education. The foundation's primary cultural manifestation was the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, which opened in 1969 in Lisbon.

### Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is located at Avenida de Berna 45A in the Avenidas Novas civil parish of Lisbon, Portugal. The museum houses over 6,000 works of art, including ancient Egyptian art, Islamic art, European paintings, and decorative arts. The building was purpose-designed to house the collection, with galleries organized to provide optimal viewing conditions while preserving the intimate atmosphere Gulbenkian had intended for his collection.

### Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is dedicated to the promotion of the arts, philanthropy, science, and education. The foundation's headquarters are located in Lisbon, Portugal, and it operates under the governance structure established by Gulbenkian's will. The foundation's mission is to preserve and make accessible the Gulbenkian collection, as well as to support other cultural, scientific, and educational initiatives.

### International Connections
The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum maintains connections to the international art world through its collection, which includes works from numerous countries and cultural traditions. The museum participates in international loan exhibitions and collaborates with other major institutions for temporary exhibitions and scholarly exchanges. The foundation's establishment and the museum's creation represented a significant moment in Portugal's cultural internationalization, bringing world-class art to the Iberian Peninsula and establishing Lisbon as a destination for art appreciation.

### Visitor Information
The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is open to the public and welcomes visitors throughout the year. Contact information includes phone number +351-21-782-3000. The museum maintains websites in both Portuguese (https://gulbenkian.pt/museu/) and English (https://gulbenkian.pt/museu/en/) to serve international visitors. As part of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation's cultural programming, the museum offers educational activities, guided tours, and special exhibitions in addition to its permanent collection.

### Significance for Portugal
The bequest of the Gulbenkian collection represents the largest single cultural donation in Portuguese history. The museum has become one of Portugal's most visited cultural institutions and a symbol of the country's commitment to preserving and sharing humanity's artistic heritage. The collection has enhanced Portugal's cultural infrastructure, attracting scholars and tourists while providing Portuguese audiences with access to works they would otherwise need to travel abroad to see. The museum's establishment also contributed to the development of art historical scholarship in Portugal and continues to support research and education in the visual arts.

## References

1. [Source](https://gulbenkian.pt/fundacao/calouste-sarkis-gulbenkian/)
2. Union List of Artist Names. 2018
3. Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia
4. BnF authorities
5. The Peerage
6. Integrated Authority File
7. [Source](http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=154)
8. International Standard Name Identifier
9. CiNii Research
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
12. RKDartists
13. SNAC
14. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
15. Gulbenkian, Calouste Sarkis
16. Roglo
17. Munzinger Personen
18. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
19. BBC Things
20. [Wayback Machine. Toledo Museum of Art](https://web.archive.org/web/20120610215632/https://www.toledomuseum.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Provenance-Research-lowres.pdf)
21. [The Terrace](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/62460/the-terrace)
22. [A Game of Horse and Rider by Jean Honoré Fragonard. National Gallery of Art](https://www.nga.gov/artworks/32683-game-horse-and-rider)
23. [A Game of Hot Cockles by Jean Honoré Fragonard](https://www.nga.gov/artworks/32684-game-hot-cockles)
24. [Fanciful View of the Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome by Francesco Guardi](https://www.nga.gov/artworks/43596-fanciful-view-castel-santangelo-rome)
25. [Portrait of Anne Louis Goislard de Montsabert, Comte de Richbourg-le-Toureil | Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland Museum of Art](https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1970.31)
26. [Still Life with Flowers and Fruit. Metropolitan Museum of Art](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436293)