Museu Anjos Teixeira

Museu Anjos Teixeira is a house museum in Sintra devoted to the sculpture of two Portuguese masters, father and son: Artur Gaspar and Pedro Augusto dos Anjos Teixeira. It occupies the house where Pedro lived and taught, so a visit feels closer to stepping into a working studio than walking through a conventional gallery.

What is this place?

The collection brings together the work of both artists. Artur and Pedro belong to several currents of twentieth-century art: Naturalism, Realism, Late Naturalism and Neo-realism. Their sculpture is figurative and grounded in a thorough knowledge of anatomy, far from the abstraction that dominated part of the art of their time.

The two returned to similar subjects. Their work explores human and animal anatomy, labour, freedom, trades and professions, the condition of women, and historical and religious figures. The result speaks about everyday Portuguese life as much as about form and technique.

What materials will you see?

The museum holds sculptures in plaster, marble and bronze, complemented by drawings and prototypes. Seeing finished pieces beside sketches and models lets you follow how a sculpture comes to life: from an idea on paper, through a model, to a work in a lasting material.

How did the museum come about?

On 24 September 1974, Pedro Augusto dos Anjos Teixeira bequeathed his collection, along with much of his father's work, to the Sintra municipality. The museum opened to the public in 1976. It worked both as a house museum and as a living studio: between 1977 and 1992 Pedro Teixeira taught sculpture here. The place served to display art and to pass the craft on to new generations.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The museum stands on Azinhaga da Sardinha, in the Rio do Porto area of Sintra, within the parish of Santa Maria e São Miguel, São Martinho e São Pedro de Penaferrim. It lies away from the busiest routes around the hilltop palaces, making it a calm pause in an intensive day of sightseeing.

Who is it for?

It suits anyone interested in sculpture, in twentieth-century Portuguese art, or in small, intimate museums. A visit does not take long, so it combines easily with other Sintra attractions. It also works for families: the figures of people and animals are easy to read, even for children.

Frequently asked questions

Is the museum large? No. It is a former home with a studio, so the visit is intimate in scale.

Who were the Anjos Teixeira? A father and son, both sculptors: Artur Gaspar dos Anjos Teixeira and Pedro Augusto dos Anjos Teixeira.

What is in the collection? Sculptures in plaster, marble and bronze, plus drawings and prototypes.

When did the museum open? In 1976, after Pedro Teixeira bequeathed the collection to the Sintra municipality in 1974.

Was sculpture taught here? Yes. From 1977 to 1992 Pedro Teixeira gave sculpture classes on the premises.

Should I check opening hours before visiting? Yes. Municipal museums adjust hours on holidays and seasonally, so check the Visit Sintra website before you go.