In Lisbon’s Amoreiras district, this small modern art museum is dedicated to painters Maria Helena Vieira da Silva and Arpad Szenes. It occupies a former 18th-century silk factory facing Jardim das Amoreiras, and the historic building is part of the visit. Inside, paintings and drawings trace both artists’ work, alongside rotating exhibitions that bring in other artists. A film room gives another way to engage with the art, and the garden and café offer a quiet pause before or after your visit.
A silk factory turned art museum
The museum is housed in the former Royal Silk Factory, an 18th-century building facing Jardim das Amoreiras. Its industrial past remains part of the setting: the high ceilings and wooden beams give the galleries a different character from a purpose-built museum. The building was renovated to house the collection, and its rooms are worth taking in alongside the art.
The foundation is dedicated to Maria Helena Vieira da Silva and Arpad Szenes. Vieira da Silva was born in Lisbon; Szenes was Hungarian. They married in Paris in 1930 and both painted abstract works. After spending time in Paris, Vieira da Silva divided her life between the French and Portuguese capitals. Their lives and work give the collection a shared thread without reducing the visit to a biography.
Works by Vieira da Silva and Szenes
The collection includes paintings and drawings from across several decades of each artist’s work. Szenes’s pieces cover 1911 to 1985, while Vieira da Silva’s span 1926 to 1986. The museum’s holdings also include paintings, drawings and prints by Vieira da Silva, as well as work by other Portuguese artists.
The collection extends beyond the two names on the museum door. Around one hundred works by Portuguese artists are held here, including pieces by Mário Cesariny, René Bertholo, José Escada and Milly Possoz. Temporary exhibitions add further artists and can occupy a substantial part of the display, so the balance between the permanent collection and changing shows may differ from one visit to another.
A visit beyond the galleries
The museum’s focus on abstract painting gives you a close look at the couple’s work and the wider circle of Portuguese modernist artists represented in the collection. Some displays include expressionist urban scenes and luminous landscapes. A film room provides a more immersive way to engage with the paintings.
Outside, Jardim das Amoreiras sits across from the museum. The garden makes a natural extension of the visit, while the on-site café gives you a place to pause. For more context on the artworks, check whether a guided tour or film screening is available during your visit.
Perguntas frequentes
Who is the museum dedicated to?
It is dedicated to painters Maria Helena Vieira da Silva and Arpad Szenes, whose work includes abstract painting.
What is the museum building?
The museum occupies a former 18th-century Royal Silk Factory facing Jardim das Amoreiras.
Does the collection include other artists?
Yes. Alongside works by Vieira da Silva and Szenes, the collection includes around one hundred pieces by Portuguese artists such as Mário Cesariny, René Bertholo, José Escada and Milly Possoz.
