Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 12.djvu/167

* LERMA. 149 LEROTJX. I tioii when Philip IV. succeeded to the throue iu 1G21. LEBMINA, hlr'me'na', Jules Hippolyte (1839—). A French journalist and novelist, born in Paris. He worked on several papers and finally became editor-in-chief of he Holeil. In the Corsaire he vigorously attacked the Empire; he was arrested in 1867 for his part in the disturb- ances at the Cemetery of Jlontniartre, and was imprisoned; on his release he founded the Satan, wliieh ■as soon repressed, like the Corsaire. Afterwards he was imprisoned for three months because of his republicanism; and in 1870 pro- posed the impeachment of the Emperor, and was sentenced to two years in prison, regaining his liberty on the downfall of the Empire. His his- torical works include: Histoire anecdotique il- hixtree de la Revolution de IS-'iS (1868) ; His- toire de cent ans (1884) ; and the valuable Dic- lionnaire unirersel illustre de la vie frangaise coiileiiijjoraine (1874). He wrote three plays — La leltre rouge, Tureiiiie, and La criminelle : and many novels, using the pseudonym 'William Cobb' as well as his own name, such as Les mystdres de AcR' York (1874); Les mille et niie femmes (1879) ; Le fils de ilonte Crista, and Le tresor de ilonte Crisio, continuing Dumas (1885) ; La science occulte (1890); and AUse (1893). He translated Shakespeare (1887-98). LERMOLIEFF, ler-mo'lyef, IvAX. The pseu- donym of the Italian art critic Giovanni Morelli (q.v,). LERMONTOFF, lyer'mon-tof, MiKHAIL Yu- EYEVITCH (1814-41). The greatest Russian poet after Pushkin. He lost his parents at an early age and was reared by his grandmother. After a few years' sojourn in the Caucasus, he entered in 1828 the school for nobles attached to the Moscow University, and in 1830 the university, from which he was expelled in 1832 for miscon- duct. He then entered a military school iit Saint Petersburg and became an officer of the Imperial Guard Hussars in 1834. A poem written in 1837 after Pushkin's death, "On the Death of a Poet." in which he openly reproached the courtiers for Pushkin's death, so displeased Nicholas I. that ho sent him to serve in the Army of the Caucasus as an ensign. Pardoned in 1838. lis returned to Saint Petersburg, but in 1840. after a duel with Ba- rante, son of the Frencl^ Ambassador, he was again sent to the Caucasus. Here he was killed in a duel by his comrade Martynoff, who thought him- self described in Grushnitski, a character in Lermontoff's Hero of Our Time. A purely sub- jective poet, he was alone in society, little under- stood by his friends, who always feared him and sometimes hated him for his merciless ridicule and stinging satire. He was the Byron of Russia, and. in striving after intellectual heights he breathed freely when away from 'loathsome so- ciety" in the higli regions of the Caucasus, which produced an indelible impression on him in his childhood. Lermontoft" began one of his best longer poems. "The Demon," when barely fifteen, and continued rewriting it until his death; yet careful stud_v reveals little dilTerence in the power of its various drafts. His fame spread like wildfire after the ill-starred "On the Death of a Poet," and when, a short time later, he pub- lished his "Song of the Jlerchant Kalashnikoflf," he was easily at the head of the Russian poets. This is the finest specimen of its kind in Rus- sian literature — an artistic production, faithfully preserving the spirit and form of the folk- song. Besides various dramatic and epic works, he wrote a great number of lyric poems. The Uero of Our Time, a prose novel consisting of live separate sketches, appeared with a preface in 1841, but installments of it were originally pub- lished in a periodical during 1839-40. The" novel is of some autobiographical value. The best editions of Lermontoff's works are those by P. A. Viskovatoff (1891), A. 1. Vvcdvenski ('1891). and I. M. Boldakoft' (1891). Tile Hero of Our Time was translated into English by Pulski (1854), anonymously (1854), and, with a bio- graphical sketch, by Ivan Xcstor-Scbntirmann ( Caml)ridge University Press. 1899 ) . The Circas- sian Boy iiltsyri). translated by S. S. Conant (Boston, 1875) ; and The Demon, translated by Stephen (Lonilon. 1875). F. F. Fiedler's German translations of Lermontofl's poems are remark- able for their fidelity to the original. LEROLLE, le-rol', Henri ( 1848— ) . A Fri nch painter, born in Paris. He studied under La- niothe, and received a first-class medal at the Salon of 1880. Among his works are: "Com- munion des Apotres" (18781; "A Forgue" (in the Metropolitan Museum. Xew York City, 1885) ; and "Dans la campagne" (1880), in the Luxembourg. His favorite subjects are large landscapes with few figures, and his effects of evening light are notable. LEROS, ler'os. or LERO, ler'd. An island of the Grecian Archipelago, one of the Sporades, belonging to Turke.v, situated about thirty miles south of the island of Samos (Map: Turkey in Europe, F 6 ) . Its area is estimated at from 20 to 25 square miles. The surface is mountainous, but the soil fertile, producing grapes, olives, and grain. Population, estimated at 4000. mainly Greeks. The chief town. Leros or Marina, has a castle, and about 1500 CJreek inhabitants. liEROtrX, lc-ri5o'. Cn.RLES M.vrie Guillaume (1814-95). A French landscape painter, born at Xantes. He was educated for the bar. but soon gave up the practice of law and studied landscape painting under Corot. Except his first exhibi- tion at the Salon of 1830. a '"Vue interieure du cloltre de Santa itaria della Pace :"l Rome." his work consists entirely of outdoor views. The more important of his pictures are: "Souvctiir de Fontainebleau" (1834); "Fete de Haut Poitou" (1844), at the Museum of Besancon ; "Souvenirs de Pornic" (18.53) ; and. at the JIu- seum of Xantes. "L'P^rdre pendant I'hiver" (1857). "Souvenir du Poitou" (18o9), "Dunes des chOnes verts" (1884), and "Le chemin pr6s Paimboeuf" (1894). LEROTJX, FBfiDfiRic Etienxe (1836—). A French sculptor, born at Ecouche, Department of Orne. A pupil of JoutTroy and of the Ecole des Beaux-Ai'ts. he made his first ajipcaranee at the Salon of 1863, with a plastic gioup "Faunes." He won a second-class medal at the Exposition of 1878 and a silver medal at the 1889 Exposition. His better - known works include the plaster statue "Ariane abandonnec" (1865) ; the bronze "Marchand de violettes" (1860). later put in the Luxembourg: a marble "Bouqueti&re" (1860), now at the Museum of Lille': ''Demosth^ne a<i bord de la mer" (1875 and 1878) ; and "Jeanne d'Arc" (1880).