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• 3 min

Calouste Gulbenkian: Collector of Gems

The early days of Gulbenkian’s collectionism bring us gems that, like the Greek coins, signal the Classicism present in many parts of his collection.

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• 2 min

Turkey

Of Armenian origins, Calouste Gulbenkian was born in Scutari (currently Üsküdar, Turkey). Despite leaving the city he remained in close contact with his roots.

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• 2 min

Mademoiselle Duplant and the Paris Opera

Françoise-Claude-Marie-Rosalie Duplant (b. 1745) was a famous opera singer, who was active during the 18th century in France.

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• 2 min

René Lalique and ‘The Ride of the Valkyries’

This was the first work in which the master jeweller used ivory. Lalique became known for experimenting with exotic materials that were unusual for the time, creating jewellery and objects with a high level of detail.

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• 2 min

Léon Édouard Koëlla

Léon Leenhoff (1852-1927), also known as Léon Édouard Koëlla, was a French musician and stepson of Édouard Manet.

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• 2 min

Thomas Linley

Thomas Linley (1756-1778) was one of the most precocious composers and performers of England, having become known as the ‘English Mozart’.

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• 2 min

Charles Carpeaux

Charles Carpeaux became familiar with the art of sculpture from an early age, posing regularly for his father, both on his own and together with his mother.

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• 2 min

Shah Jahan

Shah Jahan ruled the Mughal Empire. During his reign, the empire reached the pinnacle of its glory, making Shah Jahan one of its most important emperors.

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• 3 min

René Lalique and the Woman-flower

Central figure in Lalique's body of work, the woman-flower can be seen in many works of art at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.