The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-03-30


to this country, is enthusiast on art.
He has only been resident of Washington
for a few months, but already his beautiful
home on New Hampshire avenue is celebrated
for its free and hearty hospitality, aud it con-
tains one of the most notable collections of
pictures in the city. Mr.. de Mendonca is a very
approachable and agreeable gentleman. His
enthusiasm for and appreciation of art became
quickly apparent. He is of medium height and
fastidious dresser. His complexion is clear
olive and his hair coal black aud straight. He
is of the Brazilian type and of Portuguese
descent, like most of his countrymen.
His picture gallery begins at the spacious en-
trance hall. 1t covers the library walls, it over
flows into the drawing and dining-rooms, and
lines the staircase, while some Of the smaller
gems are in the private apartments of the lady
of the house. There nearly two hundred
pictures in the collection. "When first began"
Mr.. de Mendonsa said, 81 was full of youthful
enthusiasm for art and made numerous expen-
sive mistakes in collecting and buying, as nearly
all beginners do. L wasted money, and l
learned that even reputable dealers were not to
be trusted implicitly. Beside my experience
and study developed my judgment and taught
me by and by to tell the false from the true for
myself. 1 kept wedding out my purchases, be-
consider that have really poor picture in my
collection. For the past ten years | have
felt that was able to rely upon my own judg-
ment. l have an art library containing biogra-
phies, catalogues, ETC., of all the distinguished
collections in the world, and treating on art
generally. There are over two thousand vol
umes in it, with engravings and etchings of
all the celebrated works known"
To begin with the old masters, Mr. de Men
donca's principal canyases can only be briefly
described. Titian's ''Susannah Surprised by the
Elders at the Bath" is probably the finest pic
ture he has in the collection. This picture
came into his possession several years ago He
was struck at once by its peculiar merits, al
though he found it in the hands of dealer, but
on investigation he was able to trace its history
to wcll-known British collector, and found it
enumerated in the National catalogue as belong
ing in that collection. 1t was painted originally
for Spain.
ssThe dealer said he obtained it through a fast
scion of the house, who stole it from the
ancestral halls and put it in pawn to pay his
debts, where the dealer picked it up for a mere
song anddisposed of it to me- After l
had examined the catalogues L sent a connois-
seur to examine the collection of which it was
said to have formed part, but he did not find it
there. But it was included in the catalogue of
the collection. In authentic written descrp-
tion of the picture it is stated that Titianss name
and the date of painting inscribed on the
dark side Of the cornice, on which one of the
Elders rests his hand. On examining the picture
d
Titan and date, making his age at that time
eighty-two years He died at eighty-four years
of age. Thus its genuinencss was attested to
my satisfaction as well as by the flesh-tints and
the lifelike expression of the countenance of the
surprised and indignant Susannah, mingled with
CONSERVATION and fear, and the menacing and
crafty attitudes of the Elders"
This picture is in the library. On the wall of
the staircase just as you ascend is Leonardo da
Vinci "Roman Ruins"
Mr.. de Mendonca said he had in New Y ork q
Paolo Neronese, ESTHER Before Ashuerus," !"
from the Blenheim collection of the Duke of
Marlborough, which is too large and imposing a
canvas for the walls of private residence. He
hopes to make arrangements to put this rare
picture on exhibition at the Art Gallery very
soon. In the library we find ''St Cathurine,'' "
by Perugino. 1t bears the artists signature and
date, ''144S'' A nimbus surrounds the delicate
head, and the uplifted eyes are very beautiful,
but sad in expression
On an easel in the drawing room is Murillo,
The Holy Family" This is one of the two
smallest Murillos in existence, and has been
transferred from the canvas to wood. This
picture represents the Holy Mother, dressed as a
peasant woman, holding the divine child, in u
tunc of white, as she sits under the wayside
tree. st. Ann is behind her and st. Joseph in
the foreground The tone of this pictureis is very
rich, soft, and smooth. There is another
Murillo-a lovely woman's face-a ''Magda-
lene," from the celebrated Bernonville and
Pereire collection Between the windows in the
bay of the library hangs 'Ecce Homo, !" by Mateu
CereZO, from tne ASuauO cOIleculOn. III is an
ideal head of Christ, crowned with thorns, the
face full of divine compassion, as if he were
uttering, "Not my will but Thine be done, "
Franz Halls portrait of professor of Leyden"
is that of a rugged-faced old Dutch scholar,
evidently in the midst of a demonstration
to his class. 1t is very realistic, and
its fit companion across the way is "The
Beggar,'" by Van Dyck, very dark and
strong in tone. The old, pinched face, with
struggling beard, Is full of pathos as he asks
aims. 1t is from the De Zoete collection. By
David Teniers, the younger, is "Tener's
senting landscape and castle. In the drawing
room is one of the most interesting pictures of
all; it is in a real antique gilt frame-'Thc
Oaks" by G.. de Hondekoeter, who was the
father of the Dutch, English and French
landscape painters. There are only five of this
artists pictures known to exist, and its genuine
is attested by the fact that it was purchased
by Senior de MendonQa at the time of the Aspin-
wall collection sale in New York few years
ago. These gnarled old oaken boles have very
natural look about them, and the perspective
under and through the foliage is far-reaching
and illusive Of description. Jacobus Ruysdael's
"Entrance to the Ruins of the Castle Brode-
rode" from the John Newenhuys collec-
ton, is charming study in sky and water at
the foot of the castle wall, where its hoary
image is reflected as in a mirror, in the depths
below, and the sand dune between it and the sea,
the gray, scudding clouds above, are all sugges-
tive of that GOODNESS and stiffness of nature pre-
ceding a storm. There is a Van Ostade
on the stairway, Two Doors " in a
kitchen smoking and playing cards, which
is very fine specimen of real life.