filled the place of divinity-reader in Magdalen college, Oxford; but being enthusiastically devoted to the study of the Greek language, which was then scarcely understood at all in England, he quitted his reader's place in 1488 and went to Italy, where he studied for some time under Demetrius Chalcondylas, Politiano, and Hermelaus Barbarus. In 1491 he returned to England, settled at Exeter college, Oxford, and publicly taught his favourite language, with a new and, it is said, a better pronunciation—probably that which is still used on the continent and in Scotland. This innovation, and even the teaching of the language, encountered violent opposition; but Grocyn was supported by a strong party, and the members of the university were divided into two factions, the Greeks and the Trojans. It was about this time that Erasmus visited Oxford, and resided during the greater part of his stay there in Grocyn's house. The latter was very friendly to Erasmus, and there is no doubt that he assisted the learned Dutchman in attaining a more perfect knowledge of the Greek, for Erasmus calls him "patronus et preceptor," and speaks of him in the most respectful terms. It is remarkable that Grocyn had no esteem for Plato, but applied himself with great devotion to Aristotle, whose whole works he had formed a design of translating, in conjunction with his friends William Latimer, Linacre, and More; but this design was never accomplished. The only production of his extant is a Latin epistle to Aldus Manutius, prefixed to Linacre's translation of Proclus De Sphæra; and Erasmus, who ought to have been well informed, says that he wrote no other, "having so nice a taste that he had rather write nothing than write ill;" but some writers ascribe works to Grocyn which are not in print. In 1506 he became master of Allhallows college at Maidstone in Kent, though he continued to reside mostly at Oxford. He died of the palsy at Maidstone in 1519.—G. BL.
GROLMAN, Karl Ludwig Wilhelm von, a German statesman and jurist, born at Giessen, July 23, 1775; became professor of jurisprudence at Giessen in 1795; in 1805 chancellor of the university; in 1819 minister of state of the duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt; in 1821 premier. He died, February 14, 1829. He left some valuable works on jurisprudence.—F. M.
GRONOV, better known by the Latinized form of the name Gronovius, a family of German extraction, but which settled in Holland, and produced several men who were distinguished for their talents and learning. We shall enumerate these in their chronological order:—
Gronovius, Johannes Fridericus, a celebrated antiquarian and classical scholar, was born at Hamburg in 1611 according to Moreri, who is generally followed, or in 1613 according to Bayle. He studied at Leipsic, Jena, and Altdorf, after which he travelled in Holland, England, France, and Italy. He was first appointed professor at Deventer, where he acquired extraordinary reputation. He afterwards removed to Leyden as professor in the university there, a post which he occupied till his death in 1671. Gronovius was a man of quiet habits, and by his diligent application to study got through an immense amount of work. He wrote several books, but he is best known for his editions of the classics, his notes upon them, and his antiquarian compilations. The list of his publications extends over a period of nearly half a century; every one of them almost is remarkable for learning and accuracy. It is generally admitted that his knowledge, especially of the Latin language and literature, and subjects connected with them, has in modern times never been surpassed.
Gronovius, Jacobus, son of the preceding, was born at Deventer in 1645. His youthful studies gave high promise, and at Leyden, where his father was professor, he greatly distinguished himself. At the age of twenty-three he came to England, where he spent several months at the university libraries, and formed the acquaintance of several learned men. Soon after his return to Leyden he published an edition of Macrobius, and another of Polybius, in which he was assisted by his father. He subsequently pursued his literary labours and travels in Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany. He acquired vast learning, wrote a number of original works, of which the most famous was his "Thesaurus Antiquitatum Græcarum," in thirteen folio volumes; and many editions of the classics. He died at Leyden, October 21, 1716, leaving a great name. He was too much given to controversy, but nevertheless was honoured with the friendship of the most accomplished men of his time.
Gronovius, Theodorus Laurentius, brother of the preceding, was born at Leyden about the year 1660, and like his father and brother was endowed with a remarkable faculty for the acquisition of learning. He turned his attention to jurisprudence and antiquities, and although he resided at Deventer, he visited Italy on two occasions for literary purposes. Out of these journeys arose his correspondence with Magliabecchi, which has been published; his work on the Pandects; and his dissertation on the marble base of the colossus of Tiberius. He also wrote notes on Vibius Sequester. He died early in the eighteenth century.
Gronovius, Abraham, the son of Jacobus, was born at Leyden in 1694 or 1695, and adopted the medical profession, which he followed in England and in Holland. His literary tastes led to his appointment as librarian at Leyden, where he died in 1775. He published numerous editions of ancient authors, with notes, including Tacitus, Justin, Pomponius Mela, Ælian, and others.
Gronovius, Johannes Fridericus, the brother of Abraham, was born early in the eighteenth century. He applied himself to legal studies, and was a magistrate at Leyden; but he had a passion for natural history, and he particularly excelled as a botanist. He corresponded with Linnæus and other naturalists, and published several botanical and other works. He died in 1760.
Gronovius, Laurentius Theodorus, brother of the preceding, was born early in the eighteenth century, and died in 1777. He also took part in civic affairs at Leyden, and diligently studied natural history. He wrote a work in two folios on the natural history of fishes, entitled "Museum Ichthyologicum," which was preceded by his "Bibliotheca regni animalis atque lapidei," and followed by his "Zoophylacium Gronovianum," and the ninth book of Pliny's Natural History.—B. H. C.
GROOT. See Gerhard.
GROPPER, Johann, a learned German controversialist, was born at Zoert in Westphalia in 1501; died at Rome in 1558. He was greatly honoured by Charles V.; and Paul IV. called him to Rome, and offered him a cardinal's hat, which he modestly declined. He wrote "Enchiridion Christianæ Religionis," and a treatise in German "On the Real Presence in the Eucharist," a work pronounced by Rapin to be one of the best controversial books ever published.—G. BL.
GROS, Antoine Jean, one of the most distinguished of the modern French painters, was born at Paris in 1771, and entered the popular school of David. Gros at first followed the classical taste of his master; but, being at an early age carried away with enthusiasm at the wonderful achievements of Bonaparte, he devoted his powers to the illustration of the military glories of his country. The first picture that established his reputation was "Bonaparte on the Bridge of Arcola;" and in 1804 he exhibited his great and terrible picture of the "Plague of Jaffa," with his hero visiting the sick; it is now at Versailles. This was followed by many other equally large and extraordinary pictures, but not all equally successful; parts are occasionally executed with too much of the boldness and carelessness of scene painting. The principal are the "Battle of Aboukir;" the "Battle of the Pyramids;" "Napoleon on the Field of Eylau;" the "Battle of Wagram;" and the "Capture of Madrid by Napoleon." These are all great military spectacles, but which do not come into the category of high art; they are genre pictures on a large scale, and really are wanting in every refinement of painting. Gros' greatest work is considered the "Cupola of St. Geneviéve," previously the Pantheon, painted in oil for Louis XVIII., which was completed in 1824, and for which the painter was created a baron. It exhibits the saint-patroness of Paris as guardian of the French throne, represented by Clovis, Charlemagne, St. Louis, and Louis XVIII.; it is a rich work, but belongs to the ordinary class of ornamental painting. Occasionally he executed works of a more delicate class, as the "Visit of Francis I. and Charles V. to the Abbey of St. Denis;" "Sappho leaping from the Promontory of Leucate;" and he has also painted many good portraits. There are some good prints after him by Laugier and Forster. Baron Gros was professor of painting at the école des beaux arts, member of the Institute, &c. He died at Paris, June 26, 1835.—(Gabet. Artistes de l'Ecole Francaise.)—R. N. W.
* GROS, Jean Baptiste Louis, Baron de, a French diplomatist, son of the preceding, entered the diplomatic career in 1823 as attaché. After the revolution of July, 1830, he was
