The museum is located in two villas that used to belong to the painter, José Malhoa, and later to Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves, the great art lover and friend of Gulbenkian. One part of the museum is used for temporary exhibitions of work by early 20C Portuguese artists, such as Vieira da Silva, Eduardo Viana and Amadeo da Souza, etc. The permanent collection is composed of old Chinese porcelain, furniture, textiles and jewellery.