BELLINI (GIOVANNI, or JOHN), brother to the preceding, was born at Venice in 1422, but surpassed both his father and brother in every branch of the art; and is accounted the founder of the Venetian school, by introducing the practice of painting in oil, and teaching his disciples to paint after nature. His manner of designing was but indifferent, and frequently in a bad taste; and before he knew how to manage oil-colours, his painting appeared dry; but afterwards he acquired more softness in his penciling, shewed a much greater propriety of colours, and had somewhat of harmony, though still he retained too much of what appeared dry and hard; but the airs of his heads were in a better taste than those of either Giacopo or Gentile. The school of Giovanni Bellini produced two memorable disciples, Titian and Giorgione, who brought the art of colouring to its highest perfection; and by observing the works of those famous artists, Bellini improved his own manner very considerably, so that in his latter pictures the colouring is much better, and the airs of his heads are noble, although his design is a little gothic, and his attitudes not well chosen. He died in 1512.1 BELLINI (LAURENCE), an eminent Italian physician, was born at Florence, 1643. After having finished his studies in polite literature, he went to Pisa, where he was assisted by the generosity of the grand duke Ferdinand II. and studied under two of the most learned men of that age, Oliva and Borelli. Oliva instructed him in natural philosophy, and Borelli taught him mathematics. At twenty years of age, he was chosen professor of philosophy at Pisa, but did not continue long in this office; for he had acquired such a reputation for his skill in anatomy, that the grand duke procured him a professorship in that science. This prince was often present at his lectures, and was highly satisfied with his abililies and performances. Bellini, after having held his professorship almost thirty years, accepted of an invitation to Florence, when he was about fifty years of age, and was advanced to be first physician to the grand duke Cosmo III. but his practice is said to have been unsuccessful. He died January 8, 1703, being sixty years of age. His works were read and explained publicly during his life, by our countryman Dr. Pitcairn, 1 Pilkington.-Vasari. professor of physic in Leyden. The principal of his works are, 1. "Exercitatio Anatomica de structura et usu renum. Amst. 1665, in 12mo. 2. "Gustus Organum novissimè deprehensum; præmissis ad faciliorem intelligentiam quibusdam de saporibus," Bologna, 1665,` 12mo. 3. "Gratiarum actio, ad Ser. Hetruriæ ducem. Quædam Anatomica in epistola ad Ser. Ferdinandum II. et propositio mechanica," Pisa, 1670, 12mo. 4. "De urinis et pulsibus, de missione sanguinis, de febribus, de morbis capitis et pectoris," Bologna, 1683, 4to, Francfort and Leipsic, 1685, 5. "Opuscula aliquot de urinis, de motu cordis, de motu bilis, de missione sanguinis," L. Bat. 1696, 4to. This is dedicated to Dr. Pitcairn. Haller criticises Bellini with some severity, but the fullest account and defence of him is that by Fabroni. ' 4to. BELLOCQ (PETER), valet-de-chambre to Louis XIV, and trainbearer to the queen Maria Teresa, and afterwards to the duchess of Burgundy, dauphiness of France, was a French poet and wit of considerable fame. He was born at Paris in 1645. The most esteemed of his poems are "Les Petits-maitres," and "Les Nouvellistes," two satires, and his poem on the " Hotel des invalides.” Several other of his pieces are to be found in the collections, particularly in that published at the Hague in 1715, 2 vols. He lived in friendship with Moliere and Racine, but incurred the displeasure of Boileau by writing against his Satire on Women, which Boileau revenged by giving him a place, not of the most honourable kind, in his tenth epistle; but Bellocq having apologised, Boileau erased his name, and put in that of Perrin. Bellocq died Oct. 4, 1704. He was highly respected by his royal master, and his wit and agreeable manners introduced him as a welcome guest in every polite company. 2 BELLOI, or BELLOY (PETER), advocate general of the parliament of Toulouse, of the sixteenth century, was born at Montauban, and descended from a gentleman's family originally of Brittany. At the age of twenty-one he was appointed regent in the university of Toulouse, and after having pleaded four or five years at the bar, he was made a counsellor, or member of the presidial court of Toulouse. Notwithstanding his being a Roman catholic, 1 Fabroni Vitæ Italorum, vol. IV.-Haller and Manget.-Gen. Dict.-Mo? Moreri. reri. 2. his regard for his king and country brought him into danger. His declaring against the league made the heads of that party his enemies, and king Henry III. to gratify the Guises, ordered him to be imprisoned. This happened in 1587. They charged him with being a heretic, and an incendiary, and the year before they had prevailed with the bishop to prefer an information against him, as the author of a book which Thuanus says was written by one Breton, who was hanged for it. Belloy's work against the league, entitled "Apologie Catholique contre les libelles, &c. publiées par les Liguez," was published in 1585, and afterwards translated into Latin. Belloy at length escaped from prison, and reached St. Dennis, where the governor for the king gave him a friendly reception, and presented him to his majesty, who being now convinced of his loyalty and merit, made him advocate-general of the parliament of Toulouse. The time of his death is not recorded, but he was living in 1605, and probably much later. His other works are, 1." Declaration du droit de légitime Succession sur le royaume de Portugal apartenant à la reine mere du roi très Christien," à Anvers et à Paris, 1582, 8vo. "Panégyric ou Remonstrance pour les Sénéchal, Juges mage et criminel... de Tolose, contre les Notaires et Sécrétaires du Roi de la dite Ville," Paris, 1582, 4to. 3. "Requeste verbale pour susdits Seigneurs et Officiers de Tolose, contenant une Apologie et Défence à l'Advertissement, publié au nom des Docteurs Régents de l'Université de Tolose," Paris, 1583, 8vo. 4. "Brieve Explication de l'an courant 1583, selon de Calendier Gregorien," Paris, 1583, 8vo. 5. "Supputation des temps depuis la Création du Monde jusqu'en 1582, séparée en deux colomnes diverses," Paris, 1584. 6. "Petri Beloii Variorum Juris Civilis Libri IV, et Disputatio de Successione ab intestato," &c. Paris, 1583. 7. "La Conference des Edits de Pacification et Explication des Edits," Paris, 1600, 8vo. 8. "Exposition de la Prophétie de l'Ange. Gabriel touchant les septante semaines descrites par le Prophéte Daniel au Chap. ix. de ses Prophéties," Tolose, 1605, 8vo. "De l'Origine et Institution de divers Ordres de Chevalerie, tant Ecclésiastiques que Profanes, dédié a Monsigneur le Dauphin de Viennois, Duc de Bretagne," Montauban, 1604, 8vo. 10. Arrest de la Cour de Parlement de Tolosé prononcé en l'Appellation comme d'Abus relevée par frere Jean Journé, religieux de l'ordre de St. 9. Dominique, et provincial du dit ordre en la Province de Tolose, sur la procédure contre lui ordonnée par les sieurs Evesques de Condon et d'Aure, contenant le Plaidoye sur ce fait, par Mr. Pierre de Beloy, conseiller et avocat général du roi au dit Parlement, Tolose, 1612, 8vo.! BELLOI (PETER LAWRENCE BUYRETTE DU), of the French academy, was born at St. Flour, in Auvergne, in 1727, and educated at Paris under one of his uncles, a distinguished advocate of parliament. After having finished his studies with applause at the College-Mazarin, he took to the bar; or rather, in entering on this profession, he followed his uncle's inclinations in opposition to his own. Captivated by an ardent passion for literature, and despairing of ever being able to move his benefactor, a man severe and absolute in all his determinations, he expatriated himself, and went to Russia, to exercise the profession of a comedian, that he might be dispensed from exercising that of a lawyer at Paris. Being returned to that capital in 1758, he brought upon the stage his tragedy of "Titus," imitated from the Clemenza di Tito of Metastasio. This copy of a piece barely tolerable, is only a very faint sketch of the nervous manner of Corneille, whose style the author strove to resemble. Du Belloi afterwards wrote "Zelmire," wherein he accumulated the most forced situations and the most affecting strokes of the dramatic art. It was attended with success in representation, but will not bear examination in the closet. The "Siege of Calais," a tragedy which he brought out in 1765, was a shining epocha of his life. This piece, which presents one of the most striking events in the history of France, procured the author the recompense it deserved. The king sent him a gold medal, weighing twenty-five louis d'ors, and a considerable gratification besides. The magistrates of Calais presented him with the freedom of their city in a gold box; and his portrait was placed in the hôtel-de-ville, among those of their benefactors. These testimonies of gratitude were thought due to a poet who set his brethren the example of choosing their subjects from the national history; and he would have been the more deserving of them if he had taken better care of his versification, which is frequently incorrect and harsh. In style, likewise, he was very deficient; but this was 1 Gen, Dict.-Moreri. overlooked in the generous and noble sentiments, and the pathetic situations which constituted the attractions of the Siége de Calais. Voltaire wrote the most flattering letters to the author, but for some reason retracted his encomiums after his death; and it was generally the fate of this tragedy to be too much extolled at first, and too much degraded afterwards. "Gaston and Bayard," in the plan of which are several faults against probability, did not excite so lively emotions as the mayor of Calais; yet still the public admired the honest and steady character, and the sublime virtues, of the "Chévalier sans peur et sans reproche." His two pieces, "Peter the cruel," and "Gabrielle de Vergi," the former of which was immediately condemned, and the latter applauded without reason, are much inferior to Bayard. The author understood the proper situations for producing a grand effect; but he wanted the art to prepare them, and to bring them on in a natural manner. He substituted extraordinary theatrical efforts for the simple and true pathetic, and the little tricks of oratory for the eloquence of the heart; and by this means he contributed not a little to degrade and debase the French draThe fall of" Peter the cruel" was a fatal stroke to his extreme sensibility, and it is said hastened the term of his life. He was attacked by a lingering distemper, which lasted for several months, and exhausted his very moderate share of bodily strength. A beneficent monarch (Louis XVI.) before whom the Siége de Calais was performed the first time, being informed of the lamentable condition of the author, sent him a present of fifty louis d'ors, and the players, from motives of a laudable generosity, gave a representation of the same tragedy for the benefit of the dying poet. He expired shortly after, on the 5th of March 1775, justly regretted by his friends, who loved him for goodness of disposition and warmth of friendship. M. Gaillard, of the academie Françoise, published his works in 1779, in 6 vols. 8vo. In this edition are contained his theatrical pieces, three of which are followed by historical memoirs of a very superior kind, with interesting observations by the editor; divers fugitive pieces in poetry, for the most part produced in Russia, but very unworthy of his pen, and the life of the author by M. Gaillard. 1 ma. VOL. IV. 1 |