Saul;" a "Triumph of David over Goliath;" and the "Attempt of Saul to slay David"—all "fetisly ywrought."—W. T.
BRONKHORST, Peter van, a Delft artist, born in 1588. He excelled in painting church interiors, which he filled with small historical subjects. The town-house at Delft has two pictures by him—"Solomon pronouncing judgment in the Temple," and "Our Saviour driving out the discounting moneychangers." He died in 1661.—W. T.
BRONNER, Franz Xaver, a German author, was born of poor parents at Höchstadt, Suabia, December 23, 1758, and after a troublesome and eventful life, died at Aargau, August 17, 1850. After the model of Gesner, he wrote pastorals in prose, in which he describes the tranquil and happy life of fishermen—"Fischergedichte und Erzählungen," Zürich, 1787-97, 4 vols.; "Fahrten ins Idyllenland," 1833, 2 vols. He also published an autobiography, a description of the district of Aargau, 1844, 2 vols., Berne, &c.—K. E.
BRÖNSTED, Peter Oluf, a distinguished Danish archæological and philological scholar, was born 17th November, 1781, at Horsens in Jutland, where his father was pastor. He studied at Copenhagen. In 1806 he went with his friend Koes to Paris, whence, after two years' residence, he proceeded to Italy. Here, associating himself with the architect Haller von Hallerstein of Nuremberg, Linckh from Wurtemberg, and von Stackberg from Estland, he proceeded to Greece, where, by digging up the buried treasures of art, they greatly aided the study of classical antiquity. In 1813 he returned to Copenhagen, and received the appointment of professor of Greek philology in the university of that city. In order to enable him to bring out the great work which his researches required, and which he believed could not be satisfactorily produced in Denmark, he was appointed by his own government their agent at the papal court, whither he went in 1818. He spent the years 1820 and 1821 in visiting the Ionian Isles and Sicily, after which, by permission of the Danish government, he removed to Paris, to superintend the printing and illustration of his works. From Paris, in 1826, he made a journey to England, and the following year paid a visit to his native land, where he was appointed privy councillor of legation. In the year 1832 he finally returned to Denmark, where he found occupation as director of the royal cabinet of antiquities, and professor of classical philology and archæology in the university. He died in June, 1842, in consequence of a fall from his horse, being at that time rector of the university. His principal work is "Travels and researches in Greece, together with descriptions and explanations of many newly-discovered monuments of Grecian art," 2 vols. 4to., Paris, 1826-30, which appeared simultaneously in French. The publication of this work led to an attack of the author in the thirty-second volume of Hermes, charging him with having unwarrantably made use of Villoison's manuscripts in the royal library of Paris, especially as referred to the island of Ceos, without acknowledgment. Brönsted defended himself by a reply published at Paris in 1830, whilst Hage had already done the same the year before in Copenhagen. Besides other lesser archæological works, as for example, "An Account of some Greek Vases found near Vulci," London, 1832; and "The Bronzes of Siris," Copenhagen, 1837, Brönsted published valuable contributions to the History of Denmark, from the manuscripts of North France, 2 vols., Copenhagen, 1817-18; also "Memorable Events in Greece during the years 1827-28," derived from the papers of the late Major Frederick Müller of Altdorf, Paris, 1833.—M. H.
BRONTË, Charlotte, born at Thornton, near Bradford, in April, 1816; died at Haworth parsonage, March, 1855. When Charlotte Brontë was four years of age, her father, the Rev. Patrick Brontë, removed to Haworth, a small village not far from Keighley, situated in the heart of one of the bleakest regions in Yorkshire. Mrs. Brontë died after a year's residence at Haworth, and an aunt took charge of her six children. In July, 1825, Charlotte and Emily went to Cowan Bridge (the Lowood of Jane Eyre), where two elder sisters had already been boarded. When, twelve months after her sisters' deaths, Charlotte left this establishment, she spent two years at Roehead, under the more favourable auspices of Miss Wooler. In consequence of the unfortunate irregularities of their brother, the Misses Brontë were much thrown upon their own resources in preparing for the struggle of life. After some futile attempts to open a school at the parsonage, Anne and Charlotte obtained situations as governesses. Neither were fortunate in this capacity, and Anne's health gave way; when, therefore, in 1841 an opportunity presented itself for two of the girls to obtain teaching abroad, she remained at home, while Emily and Charlotte went to Brussels. They were recalled at the close of the year to attend their aunt, and after her death. Miss Brontë returned to Brussels alone for other six months. Early in 1846 the sisters published jointly a small volume of poems, under the assumed names of Ellis, Acton, and Currer Bell. It met with little success, but they resolved to venture with a prose tale. "Wuthering Heights," "Agnes Grey," and "The Professor," sought acceptance from various films in London. Charlotte's unsuccessfully; but she received encouragement to attempt a more elaborate work. In the midst of harassing domestic circumstances she began "Jane Eyre," and its publication was followed by a success beyond her hopes. "Wuthering Heights" and "Agnes Grey" stole out in December, 1847, but at first attracted little notice. The following winter was a dark one at Haworth. Branwell and Emily Brontë died within a few weeks of each other. Charlotte was prostrate with a fever; and Anne, always delicate, grew rapidly worse. The two went together to Scarborough in the succeeding spring. There the younger sister died, and the other returned to her desolate home. "Shirley," which had been in progress before Emily's death, was now resumed, and continued as steadily as Charlotte's own health would permit. It was published in October, 1849, and its frequent references to Yorkshire people and scenery, led to the discovery of the authoress. During this winter she visited London, and formed the acquaintance of several literary men. In the autumn of 1850 she commenced "Villette," and brought it to a conclusion in the November of the succeeding year. In June, 1854, she became the wife of Mr. Nicholls, one of her father's curates. Nine months followed of calm happiness—months of respite and of rest. It was the sunshine of sunset. During the next winter she was confined to a sickbed, from which she never rose. She died, after a long and weary illness, bravely as she had lived. The career of Charlotte Brontë is one of the most beautiful and one of the saddest on record. In little things, as in great, we recognize her stern submission to the law of duty. Constitutionally delicate, her nervous temperament rendered her unusually sensitive to criticism. Yet she never shrunk from it, and showed a wise discretion in the selection of advice. She had none of the selfishness of genius. During the height of her renown as an authoress, she was the same obedient daughter as when a girl at school. Her life from first to last is an example of courage, patience, and devotion. Miss Brontë's writings have indubitably placed her in the highest rank of female novelists. She has attained very closely to the ideal of a work of fiction. Her plots possess the merit of rare interest; her characters, however eccentric, stand out as unmistakable realities. Even in "Jane Eyre" there is little that is either impossible or unnatural. "Shirley" and "Villette" are still more remarkable for simplicity of outline. "Jane Eyre "is perhaps the most dramatic, and therefore the most interesting of her works; but, in artistic beauty, "Villette" must take pre-eminence; nor has the authoress elsewhere equalled the eloquence and graphic description which mark the closing scenes of that wonderful tale. Her heroes and heroines may sometimes be weak or morbid—her books are all vigorous and healthy. If we except "Shirley," perhaps the greatest defect is a want of humour. Miss Brontë's style is powerful and concise. She is peculiarly felicitous in her choice of words, and we seldom desire either to contract or expand a single sentence. A detailed life has been written by Mrs. Gaskell. It is a work of much interest, and partakes of merit; but has the fault of mixing up with Miss Brontë's history private incidents which had been better forgotten.—A. J. N.
BRONTË, Emily, born in 1819; died in 1848: Anne, born in 1822; died in 1849—sisters of Charlotte. They shared the vicissitudes of her life, became companions of her authorship, and exhibited opposite phases of her character. We have few distinctive memorials of Anne's life. She leant on those around her for guidance, and in turn fulfilled the offices of kindness. Emily seems to have lived somewhat apart, even in the narrow circle of her isolated family. If the incidents in her career are few, they are emphatic, and impress us with a sort of wonder that such a stern spirit could be found in one of the softer sex. Anne's death was in accordance with her whole life; her spirit passed in a bright morning in May, quietly as the breath of an infant. Emily, too, died as she had lived—proudly
