Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/143

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
ALL
119
ALM

learning. These erudite works were received with great admiration. In 1690 the university of Cambridge honoured him with the degree of D.D.; and in the same year, Bishop Burnet bestowed upon him the more substantial benefits of a canonry of Salisbury, and the treasurership of his cathedral. Although so eminent in polemical authorship, Allix was a lover of peace and union, and was particularly anxious to bring about a better understanding between the Lutheran and Calvinistic branches of the protestant church. For this purpose he made great efforts to engage the sympathy and aid of eminent ministers in Holland, Geneva, and Berlin, but without effect. Nor was he more successful in his interpretations of unfulfilled prophecy. In his "De Messiæ Duplici Adventu Dissertationes Duæ adversus Judæos," (London, 1701,) he fixed the year of Christ's second coming for 1736. It is certainly wonderful that a man of so great learning in ecclesiastical history should not have learned, from the innumerable past failures of others in this field, how injudicious it was to enter it. In the latter years of his life, Allix took a considerable part in the Arian controversy against Whiston and others. He died in London on February 21, 1717, in his seventy-seventh year, leaving several children, the eldest of whom was a minister of the English church.—P. L.

ALLONVILLE, Francis Armand, Count d', a French officer in the army of Condé, noted, like many others of his family, for his loyalty to the Bourbons; died in 1832. His brother, Louis Alexander, a prefect and state counsellor, published a dissertation on the Roman camps of the department of the Somme.—J. S., G.

ALLORI, Alessandro, also surnamed il Bronzino, was the nephew and pupil of Angelo. He was born at Florence in the year 1535, and died in 1607. At the age of seventeen he executed a picture of the "Crucifixion" of such merit, that it was placed in the famous chapel of Alessandro De Medici. After this success he went to Rome, to complete his studies on the relics of the antique, and the works of Michel Angelo, whose particular attention to anatomy he carefully followed and improved. He paid greater attention to design than any other artist of the day; sometimes to the extent of neglecting the colouring. Of being master also of the Latter he gave, however, undoubted proofs in many of his best oil-paintings, especially in the "Sacrifice of Abraham," now in the gallery of Florence. Like his uncle, he was very successful in portraits, and executed many frescos. His treatise on the principle of design has, unfortunately, been lost, but was highly valued during his lifetime, and added greatly to his fame.—R. M.

ALLORI, Angelo, surnamed il Bronzino, a historical and portrait painter, born at Florence about 1501, died in 1570. He studied with Pontormo, and, through him, adopted rather the faults than the beauties of Michel Angelo's style. His design was, however, very correct, and the grouping of his subjects very imaginative. Worked a long time for the dukes of Urbino, and at Pisa.. Some historical portraits by this artist are amongst the most interesting of the Florentine gallery. He also distinguished himself as a poet.—R. M.

ALLORI, Cristofano, the son of Alessandro, was, like his father and great-uncle, surnamed il Bronzino. He was born at Florence in 1577, and died of a wound in his foot in 1619, or, as some writers say, in 1621. He studied under Cigoli, whom he soon equalled, if not surpassed. His style greatly differs from that of his father, from whom he only imitated the accuracy of design. He was exceedingly studious and careful in his work, even to the point of interfering with its progress and ultimate success. Yet this over-nicety, coupled with great power of expression and exquisite colouring, enabled him to produce the many beautiful works that now adorn the galleries of Europe. The most celebrated amongst these are the St. Julian, the Judith, and the Magdalen at Florence; several historical portraits, both at Florence and Paris; the Philemon and Baucis at Munich, &c., &c. Some of his oil-paintings having been too much overworked whilst fresh, have greatly increased in tone, considerably however to the detriment of effect.—R. M.

* ALLOU, Charles, a French archæologist, since 1821 a distinguished writer on antiquarian subjects; born at Paris, 1787.

ALLOUETTE, Francis de L', a French antiquarian, author of several histories of illustrious families and other works of research, was born at Vertus in 1530; died in 1608.

ALLSTON, Washington, an American painter and poet, born in 1779 in South Carolina, visited this country in 1814, and made the acquaintance of Coleridge and other celebrated persons. He afterwards journeyed through Paris to Rome, and added to the number of his friends, Vanderlyn and Thorwaldsen. From 1818 he resided at a village near Boston, and here he produced a number of pictures on biblical subjects, some poems, and a novel. Died in 1843.—J. S., G.

ALLUT, Anthony, a French advocate, one of the writers of the Encyclopédie, was a member of the legislative assemby during the earlier times of the Revolution, was proscribed for his leanings to the party of the Girondists, and brought to the guillotine 25th June, 1794.

ALLUT, John, the assumed name of a French fanatic, who declared himself in London, about 1714, the apostle of a new religion, the doctrines of which he expounded in a series of works, now extremely rare.

ALMACHUS or TELEMACHUS, a brave anchorite, who threw himself into the amphitheatre at Rome to separate the gladiators, and was torn to pieces by the mob, January 1, 404. Upon this the Emperor Honorius, by the publication of an edict, effectually put an end to these barbarous sports. The Roman church commemorates him on the day of his martyrdom.—J. B., O.

ALMADA, Alvaro vas de, a famous Portuguese cavalier, celebrated by the national poet Camoens. After pursuing a course of knight-errantry in various countries of Europe, where he was received with distinguished honours, he finally attached himself to Don Pedro, regent of Portugal during the minority of Alfonso V. That nobleman having fallen in battle, Almada, who had resolved not to survive his friend, threw himself into the enemy's ranks, and fighting desperately in his armour, was at length overpowered and slain in 1449.—J. S., G.

ALMADHI, Billah, third caliph of the race of the Abbassides, reigned nine years from the death of his father, Abu-Djafar Almansur, in 776.

ALMADHI, Abu-Mohammed-Obeydullah, caliph of a great part of northern Africa, and first of the dynasty of Fatimites, born a.d. 873-4, was a descendant of Fatima, daughter of the prophet; and chief of the sect of Schiites. His reign was fruitful in conquest, and he left at his death in 934 an immense dominion in Africa, which his successors extended into Egypt. The fourth of the race of Fatimites reigned at Cairo.—J. S., G.

ALMADJERITTI, Moslemah-Ibn-Ahmed, an Arabian astronomer and alchemist, died at Madrid in 1007.

ALMAGRO, Diego de, a Spanish voyager, companion and rival of the renowned Pizarro, was born at Aldea del Rey in 1475. His adventures, which are related in detail by a contemporary of the name of Zarate, extended from 1525 till his death in 1538—a period in which the romance of Spanish conquest assumed one of its most splendid aspects. Setting out from Panama in the first-mentioned year, he succeeded, after some fierce encounters with the Indians, in joining Pizarro, who was reduced to great straits by the hostility of the natives and the want of provisions, at a place called Chincama, 3° north latitude. The united force of the two adventurers amounted only to two hundred men, and with these they penetrated southwards as far as the bay of Quito; but, harassed by the natives, and unable to find subsistence, they were obliged to retreat—Almagro returning to Panama to demand further supplies from the governor of that town. These being refused, he made his way back unaccompanied to Pizarro, whose forces had been diminished in the interval to a mere handful. Three years of incredible hardships followed—the adventurous Spaniards pursuing their way along shores crowded with savage tribes, and yielding only the scantiest supplies of food. They reached Truxillo on the Peruvian coast, and here, their company being still further diminished by desertion, the enterprise, hopeless from the beginning, was abandoned. Pizarro shortly after set out for Spain, to demand from Charles V. the means of making the conquest of the countries he had discovered. He returned with more promises than were fulfilled, and with a patent of vice-royalty, which had been procured by slighting altogether the services of Almagro. Pizzaro and his brothers were to govern in Peru; Almagro was to content himself with the hope of being appointed commander of a fortress designed to be built at Tumbez. His anger was about to take an active shape, when Pizarro thought fit to renounce his absurd pretensions, and so conciliated his former companion by promises of equal dominion, that in 1531 Almagro willingly aided in the expedition which effected the conquest of Peru. These promises were indifferently