The Portuguese Chapter was founded in the summer of 2025 by Dr. Vera Mariz in response to a growing interest in the history of collecting and the art market in Portugal. Conceived as a forum for exchange and collaboration, its committee brings together curators, scholars, students, and museum and art market professionals who share a commitment to advancing the study of collecting from a range of perspectives and approaches. From the outset, the Chapter established a programme of panel discussions, special guided tours, and book presentations, which has consistently attracted a wide audience. These activities have laid the foundations for a dynamic network dedicated to promoting research, dialogue, and public engagement in the field.

The Portuguese Chapter is driven by a strong commitment not only to stimulating discussion on the history of collecting in Portugal, but also to building transnational connections and fostering a broader, more global understanding of collecting practices and the art market. Looking ahead, we plan to expand our programme through special guided tours, lectures, and panel discussions devoted to key themes in the history of collecting, art markets and museums. We also aim to strengthen our network by bringing together collectors, scholars, museum professionals, art dealers, and all those with a shared interest in these subjects. By creating opportunities for dialogue, exchange, and collaboration, we hope to establish our events as a welcoming forum for intellectual engagement and an active platform for the development of new ideas, partnerships, and research.

Past Activities

• 28 October 2025 – Panel Discussion at São Roque Antiguidades: “(Re)Starting a Collection: Past, Present and Future”, with Hugo Miguel Crespo and Sara de Sousa e Andrade (moderator), Adelaide Duarte, Ângelo Silva and Paulo Damião, Arlete Silva and Rui Brito, and Miguel Cabral Moncada.
• 9 December 2025 – Special Guided Tour of the Medeiros e Almeida Museum with Maria Mayer: “Acquisition Narratives: Medeiros e Almeida and the Formation of His Collection.”
• 3 March 2026 – Special Guided Tour of the Ajuda National Palace with José Alberto Ribeiro: “The Formation and Dispersal of the Royal Collections at Ajuda.”
• 11 May 2026 – Special Tour of the LAAF – Lisbon Art Fair.
• 14 May 2026 – Panel Discussion at LAAF – Lisbon Art Fair: “Forgeries and the Art Market”, with Vera Mariz (moderator), Diana de Almeida Ramos, João Alves de Oliveira, and Sebastião Jorge Neves.
• 8 July 2026 – Book Presentation and Talk at the Medeiros e Almeida Museum: “Para Além de Portugal: Josefa de Óbidos in European and North American Collections.” Book presentation by Fernando António Baptista Pereira, followed by a talk by the author, Carmen Ripollés, on her book Josefa de Óbidos.

Steering Committee

Steering Committee

Head of the Portuguese Chapter: Dr. Vera Mariz, Curator, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

Dr. Hugo Miguel Crespo, Researcher, University of Lisbon Centre for History

Joana Ferreira, Curator, Medeiros e Almeida Museum

Dr. Michela Degortes, Postdoctoral Researcher, Art History Institute, NOVA University of Lisbon – School of Social Sciences and Humanities

Dr. Ramiro Gonçalves, Curator, Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga

Sara de Sousa e Andrade, Art Advisor and head of Givoa Art Consulting Portugal

Vera Gonçalves, PhD Student, ARTIS – Institute of Art History, University of Lisbon

Advisory Board

Professor Alexandra Curvelo, Director, NOVA University of Lisbon – School of Social Sciences and Humanities

Dr. José Alberto Ribeiro, Director, Ajuda National Palace

Professor Maria João Neto, Director, ARTIS – Institute of Art History, University of Lisbon

Dr. Marta Lourenço, Director, National Museum of Natural History and Science

Dr. Nuno Vassallo e Silva, President of the Board of the CCB – Centro Cultural de Belém

Professor Paulo Simões Rodrigues, Deputy Director, CHAIA – Center for Art History and Artistic Research, University of Evora

Professor Nuno Crespo, Dean, School of Arts, Universidade Católica Portuguesa

Contact: portugal@societyhistorycollecting.org