Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/794

BEFANA. BEFANA, ba-fil'na (It. Befana, or Befanki, corrupted from Epiphania, Epiphany). The name given in Italy to a singular custom pre- vailing on the festival of that name (Janu- ary 6). According to tradition, the Befana was an" old woman who, being busy cleaning the house when the Three Wise Men of the East passed by on their way to ofler their treasures to the infant Saviour, excused herself for not going out to see them, on the ground that she would have an opportunity of doing so when they returned. They, however, went home by another wav; and the Befana, not knowing this, has ever since been watching for their return. She is supposed to take a great interest in chil- dren, who on Twelfth Night are put earlier to bed, and a stocking of each is hung before the fire. Shortlv the cry "Bcco la Befana!" is raised; and the "children, who have not gone to sleep, dart out of bed and seize their stockings, in which each finds a present hearing some pro- portion in value to his conduct during the year. If any one has been conspicuously ill behaved, he finds his stocking full of ashes — the method the Befana takes of expressing her disapproba- tion. It was also customary in Italy, on Twelfth Night, to carry an effigy called the Befana in procession through the streets amid great re- joicings; hut this, which was probably the relic of the celebration of a Middle-Age 'mystery,' has fallen greatly into disuse. The w-ord is also used to awe naughty children. See Bean King's Festival.

BEFORE THE MAST. In rigged ships, that part of the upper deck forward of the mainmast used by the enlisted men. Abaft the mainmast the starboard side (in port; at sea, the weather side) of the quarter-deck is kept clear of all persons, except the officer of the deck and the captain; while the port side (at sea, the lee side) is used by the officers as a promenade, etc. This division of the ship at the mainmast gave rise to the expression before llie mast, which is used in the same sense in the merchant service, where the customs are similar but less formal. Jlariners serving before the mast are therefore enlisted men and not officers, both in the navy and in the merchant marine.

BEG. See Bet.

BEGA, ba'ga, CoRNELis (1020-64). A Dutch painter and etcher. He was born in Haarlem, and was a pupil of Adriaen van Ostade. Like his master, he chose his subjects from low life in its humorous aspects, especially tavern scenes. Among his numerous pictures the "Peasants' Concert," in the Amsterdam Museum; "The Alchemist," in the Casscl Gallery; "Peasant Family," in the Berlin Museum; and "Rustic Interior." in the Louvre, are considered his best.

BEGABELLI, ba'garel'le, Antonio (c.1498- 1505). An Italian modeler and designer, known as Antonio of Modena, and accounted by his con- temporaries the most eminent plastic artist of his time. He was born at Modena, and studied designing under Giovanni dell' Abbati and Guido Mazzoni, whom he speedily surpassed in his art. The <Teater part of his life was passed at Mo- deiia.'^but he practiced and taught at Parma and Mantua as well. He was a friend of Correggio, with whom he cooperated in the decoration of the cathedral at Parma, Begarelli supplying many of the designs and models for his fnend s pictures. His groups were generally of life-size or heroic, and were lauded, according to Vasari, for their grace and exquisite proportion. Vasari also relates that Michelangelo once exclaimed of Begarelli's reliefs: "If this cla.v could become marble, alas for the ancient statues!" As a master of design .Begarelli exerted a powerful influence on the succeeding schools of Lombard painters. Of his extant works the most impor- tant is a "Descent from the Cross," in the Church of San Francesco at Modena.

BEGAS, ba'gas, Karl (1794-1854). A Ger- man painter, born at Heinsberg, near Aix-la- Chapelle. After studying with Philippart he entered the studio of the painter Gros in Paris (1813). During the occupation of that city by the Allies in 1815, the King of Prussia became interested in the work of the young artist, and intrusted him with several important commis- liions. In 1821 he received a royal .stipend, and proceeded to Italy, where he became an adherent of the 'Nazarenes,' or Overman Pre-Eaphaelite School, from the principles of which, however, he afterwards departed. Among his principal works are: "Christ on the Mount of Olives" (1818, Garnisonkirche, Berlin) ; "The Coming of the Holy Ghost" (1821, Cathedral, ib.) ; "The Resurrection" ( 1827, Werdersche Kirche, Ber- lin) ; "Portrait of Thorwaldsen" (National Gal- lery, ib.) ; "Baptism of Christ" (Garnisonkirche, Potsdam); "Lorelei" (1834); "Mohrenwasche" (1843, National Gallery, Berlin).

BEGAS, Karl (184.5—). A German sculp- tor, a brother of Eeinhold Begas. He received his education at the Berlin Academy of Art and in the studio of his brother. In Berlin he has achieved distinction as a sculptor of ex- tremely craceful and charming groups, such as "Sister and Brother" ( 1878, 'National Gallery, Berlin). Noble in design also are the statues of Knobelsdorff (1886, Vestibule of the Berlin Museum), and of Columbus and of Aristotle (University of Kiel). The monument commemo- rating the Franco-Prussian War, unveiled at Cassel in 1898, and tlio two groups representing JIargrave Otho IV. and Frederick William IV., in the "Siegesallee," of Berlin, were also exe- cuted by Begas.

BEGAS, (1828-83). A German painter, eldest son of the elder Karl l^gas. He was born in Berlin, and exhibited such precocity that tlie portraits executed by him at the age of twelve were prized as |)roductions of high ar- tistic merit. In 1852 he won a scholarship, which entitled him to a two-yejirs course in Italy, where in 1853 he painted his "picture en- titled "The Hour of Gossip" (Niitional Gallery, Berlin). After his return to Berlin he devoted himself chiefly to portraiture.

BEGAS, (1831—). A German sculptor, son of the elder Karl Begas. He was born in Berlin, and after studying with Wichmann and Ranch went to Rome, where the study of Michelangelo closely affected his future development. In 1800 he settled permanently in Berlin. Among the numerous and important works executed bv Begas. the following are especially noteworthy: Statue of Friedrich Schiller (Berlin. 1863); "Venus Comforting Cupid (1804); "The Rape of the Sabines" (1876); "Hermes and Psyche" (1878, National Academy,