Manuel da Silva Mendes (1867–1931) was a Portuguese scholar, lawyer, and collector of Chinese art who lived in Macau from 1901. He taught at the Liceu de Macau and twice served as interim rector, practised law, served as judge and prosecutor, and presided over the Leal Senado. An early systematic collector of Chinese art whose collection helped form the Luís de Camões Museum, he was also a pioneer in introducing Taoist thought and Chinese culture to the Portuguese-speaking world.
A Portuguese scholar who gave the second half of his life to Macau — in the classroom, the courtroom, the town hall, and among cabinets of Chinese ceramics, writing out his understanding of the East.
Manuel da Silva Mendes was a Portuguese lawyer, scholar, and collector of Chinese art. After moving to Macau in 1901 he worked as teacher, jurist, and municipal officeholder, and became renowned for his sinology and art collecting — one of the most representative intellectuals of early-twentieth-century Macau.
Profile
- Chinese Name: 文第士
- Portuguese Name: Manuel da Silva Mendes
- Born: 23 October 1867 (Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal)
- Died: 30 December 1931 (Macau)
- Region: Portugal / Macao
- Domains: Culture · Academia · Law
- Subject type: Lawyer · Sinologist · Collector