Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/573

BER . On his return to Lisbon he wrote a concise but excellent history of the reign of Don Sebastian, not published till 1837.  BERNARDO, flourished about 1370 (temp. Henry V.), painted saints, angels, and was also an animal painter of celebrity. He peculiarly excelled in the subtle drawing of the hands and feet.—W. T.  BERNARDO, so called from his title of count of Trevisano, an Italian alchemist, born at Padua in 1406; died in 1490. He details in one of his books, "De Philosophia Hermetica Liber," 1567, his labours, expense, and perseverance as an alchemist; and deplores in a most pathetic manner his uniform ill luck. In his travels in search of the philosopher's stone he was equally unfortunate, a clerk and a monk having the wit to take his money in exchange for what they knew of the object of his search. Besides the work above mentioned, he wrote "Tractatus de secretissimo philosophorum opere chemico," &c., 1600; "Opuscula chemica de Lapide philosophorum," 1567, and some other alchemical works, now rarely to be met with.—J. S., G.  BERNARDONI,, an Italian poet, born at Vignole, 1672, in the duchy of Modena; died in 1714. At nineteen years of age he became a member of the Arcadian Academy, and held the post of imperial poet at Vienna.  BERNASCONI,, a musician, was born at Marseilles in 1712, and died at Munich, January 24, 1784. His father had been an officer in the French army, in which there was a law that no one retired from the service who should engage in commerce in the French dominions was entitled to a pension for his military services. He had accordingly established himself at Parma in the capacity of a merchant; and probably here his family name underwent some modification to give it its Italian termination. He was on a sojourn at Marseilles when his son was born, but the family returned shortly afterwards to their residence in Parma; and Andrea, though his parentage and birthplace were French, had every other circumstance around him that could give him the feelings and character of an Italian. Young Bernasconi studied music as an accomplishment, but without any purpose of turning his natural talent for it to profitable account, until, when he had already attained to manhood, his father made some unfortunate speculations, in consequence of which, being thrown unexpectedly upon his own resources, he was obliged to adopt the art as a means of subsistence, which he had hitherto cultivated only as a matter of amusement. His first opera, "Alessandro Severo," was produced in Venice at the commencement of 1741, and its decided success immediately stamped its composer's reputation. It was followed by many similar works in rapid succession, which were written for the principal theatres throughout Italy, until the year 1752, when Bernasconi made a tour in Germany, and wrote his opera of "Sallustia," which was given at Munich in 1753. The success of this led to his engagement by Maximilian III., elector of Bavaria, as kapell-meister, in discharge of the duties of which office he remained at Munich till the close of his career. The first labours of his new appointment were the oratorio of "La Betulia Liberata," and the opera of "Bajazet," both produced in the year of his instalment. He wrote several other operas—in many cases the words as well as the music—the latest of which appears to have been "Demetrio" in 1772, and many pieces of church music that were much admired. In 1747 he married the widow of one of the household of the prince of Wurtemburg, named Wagele, who had a daughter Antonia, born of her first marriage in 1741; Bernasconi taught his step-child singing, and brought her so advantageously forward, that in gratitude she assumed his name. She did not appear in public until 1767 in Vienna. She was subsequently engaged at the chief theatres of Italy. She married an oboe player, and visited this country in 1778. Bernasconi had a daughter by a second marriage, but, though she had talent for singing, he would never allow her to come before the public.—G. A. M.  BERNASCONI,, born at Rome, 1622 (Charles I.) He painted flowers with elegance and accuracy. After a happy life spent in such trifling, he died 1675 (Charles II.)—W. T.  BERNATOWICZ,, a Polish romance writer, born in 1785. He published several works which were popular, though in point of ability he does not hold the highest place in literature. He was secretary to the prince Adam Czartoryski. He was attacked with a mental malady, of which he died on the 5th of September, 1836.—J. F. W.  BERNAY,, born at Malmaison, March, 1813. Taken by his father, who was in the service of the Empress Marie Louise, to Italy, he was bound apprentice to an engraver at Parma, and being involved in the insurrection of 1831, which obliged him to return to France, he became connected with the law in the office of an avoué, or attorney. Finding law little to his taste, he essayed the literary life, and produced a volume, chiefly of comedies, which, although they made little noise, find an esteemed place in the libraries of those who love letters. He died at an early age in 1842.—J. F. C. <section end="573H" /> <section begin="573I" />BERNAZZANO, ____, a painter of Milan, who flourished about 1536, and excelled in landscapes and flower pieces. The colour and handling of this pupil of Da Vinci, attracted the generous praise of the unenvious Raphael.—W. T. <section end="573I" /> <section begin="573J" />BERND,, a German protestant theologian, author of "Einfluss der göttlichen Wahrheiten auf den Willen und das Leben der Menschen," born at Breslau in 1676; died in 1748. <section end="573J" /> <section begin="573K" />BERND,, a celebrated German writer on heraldry, was born at Meseritz, grand-duchy of Posen, 12th April, 1775, and died at Bonn in 1854. After having completed his education at the gymnasia of Guben and Gotha, and the university of Jena, he became teacher at various gymnasia, and in 1822, was appointed professor of diplomatics, sphragistics, and heraldry, at the university of Bonn. Besides several works on the German language and grammar, he published—"Allgemeine Schriftenkunde der gesammten Wappenwissenchaft," in 4 vols.; "Wappenbuch der Preussischen Rheing provinz;" "Die Hauptstücke der Wappenwissenchaft," 2 vols., and other valuable works on heraldry.—K. E. <section end="573K" /> <section begin="573L" />* BERNECK,, better known under his nom de plume, a German novelist, was born at Kirchhayn in the Lansitz, 28th October, 1803. At an early age he entered the Prussian army, in which he now holds the rank of major, and at the same time performs the duties of professor of mathematics at the Berlin cadettenhaus. Besides novels and tales of no great merit, he has written some operas, and translated the Divina Commedia.—K. E. <section end="573L" /> <section begin="573M" />BERNEGGER,, born at Hallstadt in Austria, 1582; died 1640; was professor of history at Strasburg, and wrote a great number of works. <section end="573M" /> <section begin="573N" />BERNER,, a musician, was born at Breslau in 1780, where he died in May, 1827, his father, Johann Georg, having been chief organist in that city. His public performances while a child, and his appointment as deputy to his father at thirteen, prove his natural aptitude for music. He was distinguished both as a pianist and an organist, and he played also several orchestral instruments; further, he was versed in the principles of composition, though his numerous works give small token of genius—of these the most praised is his setting of the 150th Psalm for voices and orchestra, and the most popular are many of his Lieder. In 1811 he, together with Schnabel, was selected by Zelter of Berlin, who was commissioned for that purpose, to organize a system of musical education throughout Silesia; and after a course of preparation in Zelter's academy during 1812, returned to Breslau to discharge this duty with the utmost zeal and with admirable effect. The high esteem in which he was held was evinced in the extraordinary honours paid to him at his funeral. His name is interesting in this country on account of his having been a friend of Weber, whose acquaintance he made when this graphic composer was kapellmeister at Breslau in 1804, who is said to have discussed with him the plan of the overture to the Ruler of the Spirits, and even to have profited by his suggestions on this brilliant composition. Besides his connections with Zelter, Berner became intimate with this master's illustrious pupil, Mendelssohn, and he was also a friend of Meyerbeer.—G. A. M. <section end="573N" /> <section begin="573Onop" />BERNER,, a German physician of the first half of the eighteenth century, extraordinary professor of medicine at Halle, and afterwards professor of medicine at Duisburg. His principal writings are—"De applicatione mechanismi ad medicinam, cui annectitur, dissertatio medico-practica de apoplexia cum catarrho suffocativo, cum observatione de araneæ punctura et ejus medela," published at Amsterdam in 1720; and "De efficacia æris in corpore humano et usu mechanico," published at the same place in 1723 and 1728. The former of these works contains some curious observations on apoplexy, and the second consists of remarks upon fevers, and the use and abuse of Peruvian bark.—W. S. D. <section end="573Onop" />