The Atkinson Museum
At the Atkinson Museum, our mission is to bring world-class exhibitions to the Northern region of Portugal and help the city of Porto fulfil its potential.
The Museum
The Atkinson House in Vila Nova de Gaia was built in 1760 by order of José de Azevedo e Sousa, a cooper who became a rich Port dealer in the mid-18th Century.
A century later, the house was acquired by Robert Atkinson, and became the headquarters of his company and has been known as “Atkinson House”
Located in the heart of The Best Cultural District, today the house has been carefully restored and modernized to international museum standards. The Atkinson Museum is perfectly prepared and positioned to host exhibitions of international interest and importance.
The History of Atkinson House
The first identity acquired by the Museum was Solar do Choupelo. His first owner, José de Azevedo e Sousa, was a wealthy Port dealer. Born in 1723, José de Azevedo e Sousa started working as a cooper. There is not much information about his first four decades, but we do know that, in a matter of thirteen years, his prospects changed radically. His fortune was due to his engagement in the speculation of wine dealings, with the help of a Brazilian friend. His profits in the next year allowed him to acquire more wine and engage in dealings with the English merchants, who made him a very wealthy and respectable man. He soon started acquiring the land and estates to build his new house, according to his new station, and in 1760 the Manor was built.
Worthy of note is the small chapel built connected to the house, a marvelous mural painting that exhibits Nicolau Nasoni’s traits and characteristics. When José de Azevedo e Sousa died in 1788, his will stated that he would like to be buried in the same chapel that he commissioned. Recent studies hypothesize that the chapel was built in the adoration of Saint Joseph style, an homage by the first owner.
A century later, the house was acquired by Robert Atkinson, a Port Wine merchant, who made it the headquarters of his company, Robert Atkinson & Co. LTD. Since then, the Manor became known as “The Atkinson House.”
The Atkinson family was also in the business of Port wine dealings and had good connections to other well-known and well-established families, such as the Symington’s. Robert Atkinson’s niece, Beatrice Atkinson married Andrew James Symington, and so the good relations prevailed.
Part of The Cultural District
The original company of the group is Taylor’s Port, founded in 1692. Both the house and chapel were acquired to be restored and became the group’s headquarters for many years.
With the redevelopment of the area into what is now The Cultural District, the companies headquarters were moved to give way to the Atkinson Museum.
The Chapel was considered of historical importance, it was carefully preserved and restored by the company Dalmática, for a period of 9 months. These works revealed the mastery and beauty of the mural paintings that cover this chapel.
The Atkinson Museum is perfectly prepared and positioned to host exhibitions of international interest and importance.
