Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/13

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CARMONA CARMONA (anc. Carmo; Moorish, Karmunah), a city of Spain, in the province and 20 m. N. E. of Seville, on the Carbones river; pop. in 1867, 20,074. It is a well built and handsome town, on an isolated hill commanding a magnificent view of the Andalusian valleys, and is surrounded by old and massive Moorish walls. Hardly any conspicuous remains exist of the many palaces and fountains of the Moorish era, excepting the superb ruins of the alcazar, which towers over the gate leading to Cordova. This gate, built on Roman foundations, is celebrated for its beauty. There is a fine old Gothic church, with Pacheco's picture of the "Descent from the Cross," besides six other places of worship, nine convents, two hospitals, and a university. Woollen cloths, hats, leather, and other articles are manufactured; but the principal trade is in wine and olives, there being over 100 oil mills. The annual fair (April 25) is much resorted to. Carmona. Cæsar regarded Carmona as the most strongly fortified city of Further Spain, and Roman coins and other antiquities have been found here. The place was rescued from the Moors by Ferdinand III., king of Castile and Leon, in 1247; and the castle of Carmona was subsequently used for a long time as a royal residence and refuge in times of danger.

CARMONTELLE CARMONTELLE, or Carmontel, a French playwright and artist, born in Paris, Aug. 25, 1717, died Dec. 26, 1806. He excelled as a writer of short plays (proverbes) adapted for private theatricals, and as an amateur artist. He became a great favorite in society, and was appointed reader to the duke of Orleans, as well as the director of festivities, and designer of the famous park of Monceaux, his exquisite taste being constantly called into requisition by the royal family and the fashionable classes. After the revolution he was saved from want by an amateur conferring a pension upon him of 4,000 francs, in consideration of the acquisition of his tramparents (pastel paintings over 100 ft. long, which can be unrolled). He wrote and sketched with remarkable rapidity. His principal works are his Proverbes dramatiques (8 vols., Paris, 1768-'81); two additional volumes were published in 1811, and a new edition by Mme. de Genlis appeared in 1825 under the title of Proverbes et comédies posthumes de Carmontel, in 3 vols. He also wrote more than 25 comedies contained in his Théâtre de campagne (4 vols., Paris, 1775), and several novels.