The history of Casa São Roque (formerly Casa Ramos Pinto) dates back to 1759, when, as part of Quinta da Lameira, it served as a manor and hunting house, typical of those owned by bourgeoisie and noble families from Porto.
In the nineteenth century it belonged to the family of Maria Virginia de Castro, who in 1888 married António Ramos Pinto, one of the well-known producers and exporters of port wine.
Soon after, between 1900–1911, he commissioned the remodelling and expansion of the house by the architect José Marques da Silva, and at the same time, the garden was designed by Jacinto de Matos.
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PETER MEEKER COLLECTION: WORKS FROM 1982 – 2019
Sun 22 Oct – Fri 31 May
Peter Meeker Collection: Works from 1982 – 2019 is an extensive exhibition on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of Casa São Roque – Centro de Arte in Porto, Campanhã. It presents selection from Peter Meeker’s (Pedro Álvares Ribeiro’s) international art collection, which started in the 1980s in Porto, includes 40 artists and over 600 artworks. Based on the long term friendships and dedication to the collected artists, in many cases it attained extensive representations of their oeuvres and artistic series, which nowadays have become canonical. Whilst remaining ongoing, its main part has been formed until 2019, becoming collection of Casa São Roque. Works of Portuguese, Polish and Spanish artists are an important nucleus, which reflects collector’s long term stays and life shared between three countries, as well as close relationships developed within the four cities: Porto, Warsaw, Lisbon, Madrid.
This is the third group presentation of Peter Meeker’s collection, after 2022 site-specific Sala de Jogos in historical ballroom of the Club “O’Elvas” as part of the 15 Anos de MACE in Elvas (curated by Barbara Piwowarska), and the most recent display in the frame of the Arte em São Bento programme in Prime Minister’s Residence in Palacete São Bento in Lisbon (curated by João Silverio). Peter Meeker Collection: Works from 1982 – 2019 at Casa São Roque, Porto derives from these two exhibitions and was prepared jointly by Barbara Piwowarska and João Silverio. It focuses on generations of artists who grew up in countries which regained freedom after repressive political regimes, and who share existential positions: Polish ones reflecting transformation after 1989, and Portuguese reflecting modernization after 1974 revolution.
