Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/203

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
CHE.
181

her husband, by rendering her own exertions in behalf of her children essential to their education, has called her again into the field of literature. Her latest books, "Sketches from the Life of Christ;" and "Confessions of an early Martyr," appeared in 1846; she has since been a contribitor to "The Literary Garland," a Monthly Magazine published in Montreal, Canada, where Mrs. Cheney now resides. Her sister, Mrs. Cashing, is editor of the "Garland," and has written several books for the young, and poems: "Esther, a Dramatic Poem," is a work of deep interest. These two amiable and intelligent sisters are doing much, in a quiet way, for the literary taste and moral improvement of the youth of Canada.

CHERON, ELIZABETH SOPHIA,

Daughter of a painter in enamel, of the town of Meanx, was born at Paris in 1678, and studied under her father. At the age of fourteen her name was already famous. The celebrated Le Brun, in 1672, presented her to the academy of painting and sculpture, which complimented her by admitting her to the title of academician. She apportioned her time between painting, the learned languages, poetry, and music. She drew, on a large scale, a great number of gems, which were remarkable for exhibiting taste, a singular command of the pencil, a fine style of colouring, and a superior judgment in the chiaro-oscuro. The various styles of painting were familiar to her. She excelled in historical painting, oil-colours, miniature enamels, portrait-painting, and especially those of females. It is said that she frequently executed, from memory, the portraits of absent friends, to which she gave as strong a likeness as if they had sat to her. The academy of Ricovrati, at Padua, honoured her with the name of Erato, and gave her a place in their society. She died at Paris, September 3rd., 1741, at the age of sixty-three.

CHEZY, WILHELMINE CHRISTINE VON,

A German poetess, whose maiden name was Yon Klenke, was born at Berlin, January 26th., 1783. She married Mr. Von Haslfker, but they had lived only a short time together, when they applied for and obtained a divorce. She was afterwards married to the celebrated French orientalist. Von Chezy; but this second marriage proved no more happy in its results than the first; and, according to a mutual agreement between her and her husband, she was again divorced. She then devoted herself to the education of her two sons by her second husband; they did honour to their instructor, and have since obtained considerable literary fame.

Frau Von Chezy lived alternately in Munich, Vienna, and Paris. She was, on her mother's side, a grandchild of the celebrated poetess Frau Karsch, whose talents seem to have descended to her. As a writer, she is best known by the name of Helmina, under which she has written tales and romances in verse. Her writings are characterized by a fertile imagination, a pleasing style, and warm feeling; though they cannot always bear the test of a critical examination. She has also written a few spirited prose works, and the opera Euryanthe, which was set to music by Von Weber. The best of her works are "The Martinman Birds," the "Six noble Employments," and "Recollections of Vienna." She died in 1849.