Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/347

BAB BABRIUS, BABRIAS, , the author of a collection of Æsopian fables, in choliambic verse, is supposed to have lived some time before the Augustan era. He is mentioned by Avianus and quoted by Suidas, but no notices of his history have reached us. His fables, since the time of Tyrwhitt, have been edited by various persons, and of late years a large addition has been made to their number by the discovery of a MS. belonging to the convent of St. Laura, on Mount Athos. The recent edition of M. Boissonade, Paris, 1844, contains all that is known of the works of this author, and is valuable also for the critical commentary and the Latin translation with which it is accompanied.—J. S., G.  BABUER or BABURE,, a Dutch painter of interiors and perspective; lived at Antwerp at the beginning of the eighteenth century. He was a pupil and an imitator of Pieter Reefs. His masterpiece is at Rome in the church of St. Peter in Montorio.—R. M.  BABYLAS,, bishop of Antioch, suffered martyrdom in the reign of the Emperor Decius,. 251.  BACCA,, a Hungarian theologian, author of "Defensio simplicitatis ecclesiæ Christi adversus decisionem quæstionum aliquot theologicarum, ejusque vindiciæ adversus Irenæi Simplicii Philadelphi epistolam," 1653.  BACCALAR-YSANNA,, Marquis de S. Phillipe, a Spanish historian, born in Sardinia of a Spanish family, was ennobled by Philip V. for his services to the cause of royalty during a revolt of the Sardinians. He wrote a history of the Jews in Spain, and memoirs of the times of Philip V.  BACCARINI,, an Italian painter of the seventeenth century, native of Reggio, by Modena, was pupil of O. Talami, whose imitation of the Caraccis' manner he faithfully followed; died in 1682.  BACCHANELLI or BACCANELCIUS,, an Italian physician, born at Reggio in the sixteenth century. He disguised his writings after the manner of Æsop, which were full of life and spirit. He wrote two works which were printed together—"De consensu medicorum in curandis morbis libri quatuor;" "De consensu medicorum in cognoscendis simplicibus liber," 1554. We find in these works all that is most useful in the practice of Greek and Arabian physicians.—E. L.  BACCHEREST, a Dutch admiral, who lived in the second half of the eighteenth century. He commanded a squadron of the fleet sent to the relief of the English admiral. Sir Charles Hardy, who had been blockaded in the Tagus by Rochambeau. <section end="347H" /> <section begin="347I" />BACCHIDES, a general of Demetrius Soter, and governor of Mesopotamia, lived in the second half of the second century. He invaded Judea, for the purpose of reinstating Alcimeus in the priesthood; and Judas Maccabeus having attacked him with inferior forces, perished in the contest. Bacchides, however, was forced by Jonathan to quit Judea.—G. M. <section end="347I" /> <section begin="347J" />BACCHINI,, born at Florence, 31st August, 1651. After having studied theology and sacred history, he entered the order of St. Bernard, in which he became an eminent preacher. He was considered a good Greek and Hebrew scholar, and having reached the highest dignities in the order, he visited the principal cities of Italy, sought by all the literary men of that epoch, and particularly esteemed and honoured by Francis, the second duke of Modena. He is the author of many philosophical and polemic works, and has left a great number of manuscripts. He died at Bologna, 1st September, 1721.—A. C. M. <section end="347J" /> <section begin="347K" />BACCHYLIDES, a Greek lyric poet, was a native of Julis, a town on the island of Ceos. He was a cousin of the still more famous lyric poet Simonides, with whom he remained for some time at the court of Hiero in Sicily. He travelled also in Peloponnesus. He is said to have been a rival of Pindar. He flourished about 470 . Only fragments of his various poems have come down to us. They are too few to afford us clear insight into the worth of the man. They seem to have been very carefully finished, and abounded in beautiful, well-chosen epithets. He frequently alludes to the changeableness of fortune, appears depressed with the ills of this life, and thinks, like many other classic poets, that it is best for man not to be born at all. There is one beautiful fragment, descriptive of a time of peace. His fragments have been collected by Neue, and are also given by Schneidewin and Bergh in their collections.—J. D. <section end="347K" /> <section begin="347L" />BACCHYLUS , bishop of Corinth in the second half of the second century, is referred to by Eusebius and St. Jerome as the author of a treatise, "De Pascha." <section end="347L" /> <section begin="347M" />BACCI,, a celebrated Italian physician, born at Sant Élpidio, in the district of Ancona, towards the middle of the sixteenth century. He became physician to Pope Sixtus V., and lectured on botany at Rome from 1567 to 1600.—W. S. D. <section end="347M" /> <section begin="347N" />BACCIARELLI,, an Italian historical and portrait painter, born at Rome, 1731; died at Warsaw in 1818. He was pupil of Benefiale, whose abhorrence of the existing mannerism he equally shared. He was called, when still very young, to the court of August III., elector of Saxony and king of Poland, at Dresden. In that place he became acquainted with Stanislas Poniatowski, whom he followed to Warsaw on his succession to that throne. His proficiency in art and high character deservedly obtained for him letters patent of nobility from the Polish parliament, and the degree of Senior for Fine Arts from the university of Warsaw, besides the appointment of director of the works and palaces of the Polish crown. He was elected a member of almost all the academies of the time. His numerous works bear a slight resemblance in colouring to those of Boucher and Vanloo, but are far superior to them in correctness of costume and design. His series of Polish kings, and the six large pictures illustrative of Polish history, in the palace of Warsaw, are considered his master-pieces.—R. M. <section end="347N" /> <section begin="347Zcontin" />BACCIO,, or , called also simply (the Friar), one of the greatest painters of the Cinquecente in Italy, was born at Savignano, near Prato in Tuscany, in 1469. Having shown a remarkable disposition for the arts of design, he was introduced by Benedetto di Majano to Cosimo Roselli (a Florentine painter of considerable merit), under whom he began his studies, and very soon made great progress. It was in Roselli's studio that he met Mariotto Albertinelli, who became and remained, throughout his life, his most intimate friend and faithful companion. When Baccio left Roselli, he gave himself up entirely to study the works of Leonardo da Vinci, towards whose style he always felt a decided inclination. It is said that the surname of Della Porta was given to him during this period on account of his living at that time near the gate (porta) San Piero, in Florence. Impressed with deep-rooted religious sentiments, Baccio soon distinguished himself in the treatment of sacred subjects, and found ample scope for the exercise of his talents in this branch, working for the Dominican monks of San Marco. Amongst the works that he then executed, assisted by, or to say better, in company of Mariotto, is the fresco of "The Last Judgment," in which he displayed all the characteristics of his early style,—purity of design, tenderness of expression, and softness of colouring. About this time he became acquainted with Savonarola, a friar of the convent for which he was employed. The animated sermons by which that reformer and patriot strove to stop the corruption of the rich classes, the intrigues and usurpations of the Medicis, the venality and abuses of the court of Rome, made the deepest impression upon the already enthusiastic mind of our painter, who nearly abandoned his art to follow the steps of the inspired monk; but the voice of truth was soon to be silenced. The populace that gathered with bewildered admiration round the denouncing preacher, was so far tampered with by the Medicis, that, at once turning round against him, they attacked the convent, massacred his partisans, and burned upon a pile as a heretic Savonarola himself, whom, but few a days before, they worshipped almost as a saint. Baccio miraculously escaped from sharing a similar fate; but, either disgusted with the world, or in compliance with a vow he had made in the moment of danger, resolved upon entering the monastic life, and became a Dominican friar in the convent of that order at Prato. To his friend Mariotto was left the completing of those of his works that were still unfinished. During four years from that time Baccio, now Frà Bartolommeo, gave himself up entirely to the practices of his new calling, and never touched a picture until, at the end of that period, he was ordered to do so by his superior. Whilst obeying this command and deeply engaged in new works, in which his old skill and his wonted softness and harmony of colour shone unimpaired, a stranger called at the cloister inquiring for the Frate (as he used then to be styled by the artists). This visitor was no less than the divine Raphael Sanzio, who, although only twenty-four years old, had already acquired an immortal fame; and between these two noble spirits so differently circumstanced in the world, yet so kindred in their inward artistical aspirations, there sprung up, to last for their lives, the most intimate, the most sympathetic friendship,—the <section end="347Zcontin" />