Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/720

 She "leaves not the trophy of death at the tomb," but shows us the "Resurrection and the Life." Thus she elevates the hopes of the Christian and chastens the thoughts of the worldly-minded.

We must not omit to record that Mrs. Sigourney is, in private life, an example to her sex, as well as their admiration in her literary career. She is a good wife and devoted mother; and in all domestic knowledge and the scrupulous performance of her household duties, she shows as ready acquaintance and as much skill as though these alone formed her pursuits. Her literary studies are her recreations—surely as rational a mode of occupying the leisure of a lady as the morning call or the evening party.

SINCLAIR, CATHARINE, of Sir John Sinclair, the celebrated agricultural writer was born in Edinburgh. She is the author of many elegant and ingenious books, and has a great deal of vivacity, a good understanding, and a well-cultivated mind. Her observations upon character are acute, and her delineations of society happily executed. Superior to her other merits is the guiding principle of religion and high-toned morality that pervades all she has written. The following are her principal works: "Hill and Valley, or Wales and the Welch," 1839, "Shetland and the Shetlanders, or the Northern Circuit," "Scotland and the Scotch, or the Western Circuit," "Modern Society, or the March of Intellect; Tale," "Modern Accomplishments," 1838, "Modern Flirtations, or a Month at Harrogate," 1841, "Scotch Courtiers and the Court," dedicated to the Poet Laureate, 1842, "Holiday House;—Tales for Children," "Lord and Lady Harcourt," 1850, and "Jane Bouveric," 1851.

In one of Sir John Sinclair's works he alludes to the influence which his sister's writings had had on their father—making him a convert to the religion of the Bible; very different from nominal Christianity. No higher praise could be given to her genius and her piety.

SIRANI, ELISABETTA, born in Bologna, in 1638. Her father, Gian Andrea Sirani, was a painter of some reputation, and had been a favourite scholar of Guido, and successful imitator of his style. The manifestations of real genius are usually to be discovered at the earliest age; and Elisabetta, when almost an infant, excited attention by her attempts at drawing. These baby pencillings, though they attracted the notice of her father, did not give him the idea of instructing her, because she was a girl. Fortunately, a visitor at the house. Count Canonico Malvasia, a man of cultivated mind and enlarged views, used his influence with Sirani, and represented to him the culpability of stifling the rare talent that was developing itself in the little maiden. From this time she was educated for her future profession, and every study was attended to that could be useful to improve her genius. Her delight in intellectual cultivation was only equalled by her conscientious industry; the most complete success crowned her application. As a painter, her works take place among the best Italian masters. She has also left some very excellent engravings, and displayed no mean ability in modelling in plaster. Before she had attained her eighteenth year,