Modern and Contemporary Art Collectors

Luis Castelo Lopes states that the concept of art investment begins in 1973 or 74 in which the pension fund of the English Railway had money that was an absurd thing and found that there was likely to be monetized some of that money. And then grabbed 0.4 % of the fund, which at that time were 40 million pounds, and delivered to a committee chaired by a guy from Sotheby’s. And started selling 10 years later, on 83 and 89 until sold. Of the initial 40 million, they made 280 million. And there were many curators who advised.

The fact that several collections made ​​without criteria since the mid 80s here in Portugal, were bought by counseling sometimes not very good. These collections were made generally in a short time, between five and ten. Another reality, he says, is the collection made over several decades, twenty, thirty, thoughtful, and generally more successful in terms of investment. By his experience also linked to the antiques market, the collections of family, generations, which include, in addition to painting, the furniture, the silver, porcelains, are a tradition of a certain type of art collectors who disappeared in Portugal.

Regarding collecting art Fernando Santos points out the shortage of collectors: there are not many collectors. “There are few collections that can be called collection.” And stresses how good collections Ilídio Pinho, with about 700 works, but this project has stopped. The Berardo Collection is also mentioned as a good collection.

Jaime Isidoro in 2004 about art collectors in Portugal claimed "there are a few. There are two large collections of Portuguese art, which is mine, with about 500 pieces, made ​​over 50 years, and Manuel Brito; it was I who started Jorge de Brito. The Berardo Collection is not of Portuguese art, Portuguese art is misrepresented.

Manuel de Brito in 2005 relates to shortage of collectors “there is not much. There are group of lawyers Saragga Leal. "

Pedro Alvim also relates this tradition of collecting classical art and antiques as a reality throughout the entire Ancient Regime.

For Peter Meerker the reflection of the economic crisis on the art market in Portugal, already narrow, the situation is dramatic. "We're going to galleries and no sales, the market is very narrow.” Collector’s role is very important because their collections are deposited in museums, if we look at history and we see great works of art around the world in its genesis they began to be acquired by a collector.

Joe Berardo states that the initial acquisition of the works was taken by Francisco Capelo, taking advantage of a favorable environment of low prices in the late 80s. The Portuguese art in 2003 was represented with 40 works totaling about 660.