MUHNAC – Library and Council Chamber

Located in the northern end of MUHNAC’s main building, these two rooms are thought to be contemporary with the construction of the building itself, also designed by architect Pierre-Joseph Pézerat. The Council Chamber has two levels, with a cast iron mezzanine and neoclassic decoration, Throughout the years, it kept its use as a noble room for meetings, preserving the original furniture, namely the monumental wooden table with a felt covered top. The Library, or Reading Room, displays a rich decoration and has had the same functions since its inauguration. It includes a set of nine busts, made in the late 1940s, depicting notable Portuguese personalities within the science realm. Both spaces represent a significant part of MUHNAC, not only for the value of the 19th century architecture and furniture but also because they constitute an extremely relevant artistic legacy, given the quality of the collections they house.