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Photography “Vicentes” Museum
Location:
Rua da Carreira, 43-1º 9001-20 Funchal.
Phone: (351) 291 225050 Fax.: (351) 291 228724
E-mail: photographia.vicentes.drac.srtc@gov-madeira.pt
Opening Hours:
Mondays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
Enter Price:
Normal ticket: 2.50 Euros
Group of 8 people: 2 Euros (per person)
Senior citizens and youth card holders: 1 Euro
Free every days for duly identified teachers, students, members of APOM, ICOM, other Museum associations, journalists and tourism professionals.
Responsible Body:
Direcção de Serviços de Museus
Direcção Regional dos Assuntos Culturais
Secretaria Regional de Educação e Cultura
Região Autónoma da Madeira
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The Museum
The Photographia Museu “Vicentes” is located in the former “studio” of Vicente Gomes da Silva (1827-1906) on Rua da Carreira. He began his professional activity as an engraver in 1846 in the Cathedral square. In 1853, he received the favour of engraver from Her Majesty the Empress of Brazil, the Duchess of Bragança.
In 1865 Vicente Gomes da Silva established his residence in Rua da Carreira, the former Rua dos Pintos, building his workshop, “the photographic studio”, in its gardens. This first building was expanded in 1886 – 1887 by Vicente Gomes da Silva and his son Vicente, and its original structure has been maintained until today.
He has become the most prestigious photographer in Madeira, having worked for the most notable personalities to have visited the Island. By way of example, in 1860 he was awarded the “Photographe de Sa Majesté L’Imperatrice d’Austriche” on the occasion of the visit of the Empress Elisabeth of Austria, the famous Sissi. Later in 1901, he became the “Photographer of the Portuguese Royal Family” on the occasion of the visit of the King and Queen of Portugal, Carlos de Bragança and Amélia.
Over time four generation of the Vicentes family have passed through the study who have continued the work of their founder.
The Museum was founded in 1982 with the contents of the Vicentes House, later expanded by collections from other photography houses in Madeira or the acquisition and donation of collections by other Madeiran amateur photographers: João António Bianchi (Viscount of Vale Paraíso), Major Charles Courtnay Shaw, Gino Romoli, Perestrellos Photographos, Augusto João Soares, Francisco João Barreto, Álvaro Crawford Nascimento Figueira, Alexander Lamont Henderson, Joaquim Augusto de Sousa, João Anacleto Rodrigues, Foto Figueiras, Aluízo Bettencourt, João Francisco Camacho, Foto Arte, Foto Joaquim Figueira, Russell Manners Gordon (Count of Torre Bela), Artur Campos, Carlos Fotógrafo, Alberto Camacho Brandão and Foto Sol.
After improvement works in 2001 the Museum reopened to the public with a redefinition of spaces and functionalities, with the recovery of the former workshop, with scenarios, furniture, technical structures such as the laboratory, “dark room”, cameras and other photographic equipment from the 19th century and the start of the 20th century.
In its collections the Museum has around 800,000 negatives dating between 1870 and 1978, constituting a very rich historical source for Madeira in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Photographia Museu “Vicentes” has opened up its horizons with the addition of the cinema and film collection which includes audiovisual material about Madeira with a view to becoming a future Museum of the Image of Madeira.
Services:
Education
The Museum has a guided tour service subject to prior appointment.
Store
At the Museum Store/Reception there is the sale and distribution of informative material.
The Photographia Museu “Vicentes” is located in the former “studio” of Vicente Gomes da Silva (1827-1906) on Rua da Carreira. He began his professional activity as an engraver in 1846 in the Cathedral square. In 1853, he received the favour of engraver from Her Majesty the Empress of Brazil, the Duchess of Bragança.
In 1865 Vicente Gomes da Silva established his residence in Rua da Carreira, the former Rua dos Pintos, building his workshop, “the photographic studio”, in its gardens. This first building was expanded in 1886 – 1887 by Vicente Gomes da Silva and his son Vicente, and its original structure has been maintained until today.
He has become the most prestigious photographer in Madeira, having worked for the most notable personalities to have visited the Island. By way of example, in 1860 he was awarded the “Photographe de Sa Majesté L’Imperatrice d’Austriche” on the occasion of the visit of the Empress Elisabeth of Austria, the famous Sissi. Later in 1901, he became the “Photographer of the Portuguese Royal Family” on the occasion of the visit of the King and Queen of Portugal, Carlos de Bragança and Amélia.
Over time four generation of the Vicentes family have passed through the study who have continued the work of their founder.
The Museum was founded in 1982 with the contents of the Vicentes House, later expanded by collections from other photography houses in Madeira or the acquisition and donation of collections by other Madeiran amateur photographers: João António Bianchi (Viscount of Vale Paraíso), Major Charles Courtnay Shaw, Gino Romoli, Perestrellos Photographos, Augusto João Soares, Francisco João Barreto, Álvaro Crawford Nascimento Figueira, Alexander Lamont Henderson, Joaquim Augusto de Sousa, João Anacleto Rodrigues, Foto Figueiras, Aluízo Bettencourt, João Francisco Camacho, Foto Arte, Foto Joaquim Figueira, Russell Manners Gordon (Count of Torre Bela), Artur Campos, Carlos Fotógrafo, Alberto Camacho Brandão and Foto Sol.
After improvement works in 2001 the Museum reopened to the public with a redefinition of spaces and functionalities, with the recovery of the former workshop, with scenarios, furniture, technical structures such as the laboratory, “dark room”, cameras and other photographic equipment from the 19th century and the start of the 20th century.
In its collections the Museum has around 800,000 negatives dating between 1870 and 1978, constituting a very rich historical source for Madeira in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Photographia Museu “Vicentes” has opened up its horizons with the addition of the cinema and film collection which includes audiovisual material about Madeira with a view to becoming a future Museum of the Image of Madeira.
Services:
Education
The Museum has a guided tour service subject to prior appointment.
Store
At the Museum Store/Reception there is the sale and distribution of informative material.
12 lens camera for humid plate or ferrotype
Unknown manufacturer, 1875. Vicentes Photographos Collection.
“Studio camera”
Unknown manufacturer. Lens: J.H. Dallmeyer, London, no.14.659, Patent 3 B. Vicentes Photographos Collection.
Stereoscope Viewfinder
Manufacturer: H.C. White Cº. Made in: France – Paris. Model: patent dated Oct. 15. 1895. Donated to Photographia Museu “Vicentes” – 1991.
