 | Lady Layard’s Journal Go to a Date Search the Journal |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |
29 May 1882 — The Hague | |
Monday 29th May [1882]. Whit Monday. Breakfast at 9. At 10 walked out to see the Steengracht collection of pictures on the Yverburg Plaats. There are some rather good modern pictures chiefly one of Meissonier’s & some old pictures of the Dutch school– We went to the Royal Collection of Japanese antiquities close by which is very interesting. There are also different sorts of things, some Miniatures of sovereigns mostly English, some curious old pictures of Consple & receptions by the Sultan of Dutch Ministers with all the old costumes. There are curious models of Japanese houses & models of savages of Polynesia &c. At 12.30 we came back to the hotel & rested & had some coffee. At 2.30 the Bss van Brienen came & took us in her carriage to see Mme Bisschop. She was at home & we were shown her curious house—a tiny place all fitted up in the old Dutch fashion curious but mighty uncomfortable. Mme B was dressed in black with a silver girdle & rather in the old Dutch fashion. Her hair was white– She has black eyes & has very prominent teeth. She seems abt 50 & very active & peculiar. She showed us her husband’s studio & her own– She says she is going to move everything in her house to a house they have taken near Scheveningen as she has constant fever where she now lives. She said her husband had made a splendid portrait of Motley when he lived here. This portrait is now at the House in the Wood & she said Lady Harcourt had tried to get the King of the Netherlands to give it her. “Not a small thing to ask” she added, “it is a splendid portrait.” Henry asked her if she knew Watt’s portrait of Watt’s to wh she said she did not know it but she did not admire Watts as his flesh was always “dirty”. Thereupon rose a discussion between Henry & Mme Bisschop. Henry declared he almost ranked him above Reynolds & declares that within 50 years he will be recognised as one of the greatest of English painters. Mme van Brienen was very much amused at the discussion & at his venturing to contradict Mme B. She lastly showed us her own studio & a very clever water colour picture she had done of some Friesland peasants. The lady who had bought it died & left it back to her & she will not sell it. Bss van Brienen drove us to the House in the wood where we saw & did not admire Bisschop’s portrait of Motley. There is a centre hall all painted by Rubens & his pupils wh is very effective but not very pleasing. We were shown the late Queen of the Netherlands’ private sitting room wh was very simple & not shown to the general public. The whole house is very small & simple & the passages have white washed walls. The Baroness drove us back to the hotel by the Wood. I rested for ½ hour & then went out with Mrs Hillyar to some antiquity shops. We bought nothing—everything being absurdly dear. In the meanwhile Henry went to the Legation to bid adieu to the Stuarts & we both came in for 5.30 table d’hôte. | |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |