Volume 1

The universal dictionary of biography and mythology / by J. Thomas.

  • Joseph Thomas
Date:
[1887]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The universal dictionary of biography and mythology / by J. Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    629/646 (page 615)
    CLAUDF.R been equalled. Among his master-pieces are “ Esther and Ahasuerus,” “A Seaport at Sunset,” and “The Embarkation of Saint Ursula.” Died in Rome in 1682. ,!’e)s)Pe!rt to the merit of Claude, Ruskin, the “ Magnus Apollo ot art and prince of parodox, dissents from the great majority of critics. “ Claude’s capacities,” says he, were ot the most limited kind; but he had tenderness ot perception and sincerity of purpose, and he effected a revolution in art. This revolution consisted mainly in setting the sun in heaven. Till his time, no one had seriously thought of painting the sun but conventionally. . . . Claude made the sun his subject, and painted the effects of misty shadows cast by his rays over the land- scape, and other delicate aerial transitions, as no one had ever done before, and, in some respects, as no one has done in oil-colour since. There was a certain fool- ish elegance in his work; but it resembled nothing that ever existed in the world.” Reynolds used to say that “ there would be another Raphael before there was an- other Claude.” See Ruskin, “Modem Painters;” Bryan, “Dictionary of Fanners;” Dussieux, “ Les Artistes Fran^ais a l’fitranger.” Clauder, klow'der, (Gabriel,) a German medical writer, born at Altenburg in 1633 ; died in 1691. Clau'dI-a Gens, a patrician house of Rome, which produced many dictators, consuls, censors, etc., and from which the emperors Tiberius and Claudius were descended. The surnames of the patrician Claudii were Caecus, Crassus, Fulcher, Sabinus, etc. They were dis- tinguished for their pride and despotic character. Clau'di-an, [It. Claudiano, klow-de-.Vno; Fr. Claudien, klo/de-iN,,l (Claudius Claudianus,) a dis- tinguished Latin epic poet, born at Alexandria about 365 A.p. He became a resident of Rome, and a favourite of Stilicho, who was regent during the minority of Arcadius and Honorius. He acquired by his poems such celebrity that a statue was erected to him in the Forum of Trajan by the emperor and the senate. His principal works are “The Rape of Proserpine,” a “Eulogy of Stilicho,” (“De Laudibus Stilichonis,”) “The War against the Getae,” (“ De Bello Getico,”) and satires against Eutro- pius and Rufinus. Some portions of these have been lost. He has a rich imagination, a picturesque style, and harmonious versification. In his religious opinions he appears to have been a pagan. The date of his death is unknown; but he was living in 408 A.D. He is regarded as the last of the Latin classic poets. SeeT. Mazzo, “ Vita di Claudiano,” 166S; Gibbon, “ Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,” chap. xxx. ; Ersch und Gruber, “Allgemeine Encyklopaedie,” and the prefatory remarks in J. M. Gesner’s edition of Claudian’s Works, 1759. Claudiano. See Claudian. Claudien. See Claudian. Claudini, klow-dee'nee, or Chiodini, ke-o-dee'nee, (Giulio CesareJ an Italian physician, born at Bologna, won a high reputation by his writings, among which are “Crises and Critical Days,” (1612,) and “Rational Prac- tice,” (“Empirica rationalis,” 1653.) Died in 1618. Clau'di-us, [Fr. Claude, klod,] or, more fully, Tibe- rius Claudius Drusus Nero, fourth Emperor of Rome, born at Lyons in 10 B.C., was the son of Drusus Nero by Antonia Minor, (who was a daughter of Mark Antony,) and was a nephew of the emperor Tiberius. Being feeble in mind and body, he took no part in pub- lic affairs during the reign of Tiberius. Caligula, who was his nephew, gave him the office of consul in 37 A.D. On the death of Caligula, in 41, Claudius was pro- claimed emperor by the mutinous soldiers; and the sen- ate, though they preferred a republic, acquiesced in the choice of the army. His accession, as usual, was sig- nalized by acts of justice and clemency. He recalled exiles, diminished taxes, and built an aqueduct in Rome. The principal military event of his reign was his success- ful invasion of Britain in person. His wife, the infamous Messalina, acquired an ascendency over him, and caused senators and other innocent persons to be put to death. After she became so shameless as to marry Caius Silius, she was executed, by the order or permission of Clau- dius. He afterwards married his niece, Agrippina the Younger, who by a former husband had a son, L. Do- mitius. Having persuaded him to adopt this son, she poisoned Claudius in 54 A.D., when her son, assuming the name of Nero, became emperor. see Suetonius, “Claudius;” Tacitus, “Annales;” Dion Cas- si us, History.” 4 Claudius, (Appius,) surnamed Crassus, a Roman decemvir of patrician rank, was elected consul in 451 B.C., soon after which he became one of the decemviri, l ie was notorious for his nefarious attempt to enslave and dishonour Virginia, who was rescued from his power by a tragical death. (See Virginia.) Appius was imprisoned, and, according to Livy, committed suicide. Claudius, (Marcus Aurelius,) surnamed Goth'i- CUS, an emperor of Rome, was born in Illyricum in 214 A.D. After having a high command under Valerian, he was proclaimed emperor by the army at the death of Gallienus, in 268. The senate confirmed this choice. The same year he defeated the rebel Aureolus in battle. In 269 he gained a decisive victory over the Goths or Scythians near Nissa, in Servia, and assumed the name of Gothicus. He died of an epidemic disease at Sirmiuni in 270, leaving a good reputation for virtue and talents. His brother, Quintilius, was proposed as his successor; but the army preferred Aurelian. SeeTrebellius Pollio, “ Claudius,” in the“ Historia Augusta;” Tillemont, “Histoire des Empereurs.” Claudius, klow'de-hs, (Matthias,) surnamed Asmus, and the Messenger of Wandsbeck, a popular German poet and prose writer, born at Rheinfeld, near Lubeck, in 1743. He was appointed controller (revisor) of the Bank of Altona in 1778, and resided mostly at Wands- beck. His works consist of essays, fables, epigrams, humorous and serious poems, etc. He was the author of the famous “Rhine-Wine Song,” (“Rheinweinlied.”) Died at Hamburg in 1815. See Longfellow, “ Poets and Poetry of Europe;” “ Nouvelle Biographie Giindrale;” Hennings, “ Asmus: Beitrag zur Geschiclite der Literatur,” etc., 1798. Clau'di-us of Turin [Lat. Clau'dius Tauri'nus ; Fr. Claude de Turin, klod deh tii'riN'] was born in Spain towards the close of the eighth century. He became the chaplain of Louis le Debonnaire, who ap- pointed him Bishop of Turin. He was very zealous in his efforts to reform the abuses which had gradually crept into the Church, and vehemently opposed the worship of images and of the cross; in consequence of which he has been styled “the Protestant of the ninth century.” He was a man of great learning, and wrote commentaries on various portions of Scripture. He was publicly charged with heresy; but his death, which occurred about 840, saved him, probably, from a determined persecution. See Hodgson, “ Reformers and Martyrs before and after Luther,” Philadelphia, 1867; Neander, “Church History.” Claudius Albinus. See Albinus. Clau'dius Cee'cus, (see'kus,) (Appius,) a Roman patrician, who was censor from 312 to 308 B.C. During this period he constructed the Appian Way from Rome to Capua. He was afterwards consul, and interrex, (or regent,) and became blind, as his surname indicates. Pie wrote a poem, and a legal work in prose. Claudius Civilis. See Civilis. Claudius Claudianus. See Claudian. Claudius Herodes. See Herodes, (Atticus.) Claudius Marius Victor. See Victor. Claud'I-us Ful'-eher, (Appius,) a son of Publius Claudius Pulcher, was chosen praetor in 215 b.c., and in the next year was legate under Marcellus in Sicily. He was elected consul in 212, and commanded an army in the second Pilnic war. He was killed in a battle with Hannibal at Capua about 210 B.C. Claudius Pulcher, (Appius,) a brother of the Clodius killed by Milo, was praetor in 57 b.c. and consul in 53, after which he misgoverned Cilicia about two years. On his return he was prosecuted by Dolabella, but was acquitted by the influence of Pompey and Hortensius. He became censor in the year 50, and in the exercise of that office ex- pelled Sallust and others from the senate. Having taken the side of Pompey against Caesar, he obtained command in Greece, where lie died about 48 b.c. Claudius Pulcher, (Publius,) a Roman general, son of Appius Claudius Caecus, noticed above, was distin- guished for his insolence and pride. He was elected