Berlin. He was decorated with many orders, was a member of the French Institute (1832), highly esteemed by the king, and generally respected by his fellow-citizens; whilst, alike by his countrymen and foreigners, he was regarded as the chief of German sculptors. In person he was tall and of a fine presence; in character simple and unassuming; always ready to assist the student and to recognize merit in the professor. He died at Dresden, where he had gone in the hope of benefiting his health, December 3, 1857.—J. T—e.
* RAUMER, Friedrich Ludwig Georg von, a celebrated German historian, was born at Wörlitz, near Dessau, 14th May, 1781. He was carefully educated, and devoted himself to the study of law and administrative science in the universities of Halle and Göttingen. He then entered the Prussian administrative service, in which he was rapidly promoted to several important offices. His greatest ambition, however, was realized in 1811, when he was appointed professor of history at Breslau. Eight years later he was translated in the same capacity to Berlin, where besides his professorship he was nominated a member of the Ober-Censur-Collegium. This latter office he, however, resigned in 1831 with some eclat. The intervals of his official duties and literary labours were filled with travels. At different times he visited Switzerland, Italy, France, England, and America. He searched the Paris and London libraries, and gave the fruits of these researches and travels to the world in a number of historical contributions and books of travel, which are distinguished by shrewd observation and rich information. Among his numerous works, however, his "History of the Hohenstaufen" ranks highest; it is indeed the corner-stone of his fame, and by its happy combination of solid research and tasteful narrative, will always occupy a prominent place in the historical literature of Germany. Of no less merit are his "History of Europe," since the end of the fifteenth century, 8 vols.; his "Lectures on Ancient History," 2 vols.; and his "Historisches Taschenbuch," since 1830. In his works, as well as in his actions, Raumer has always professed liberal principles, and has by his liberalism, however moderate it was, several times given offence to government. Particularly his discourse on Frederick II. (1847) produced so much displeasure, that he had to resign his membership of the Berlin Academy. But it was to this circumstance that he owed his election to the Frankfort national assembly, where he took his seat in the centrum. From Frankfort he was sent on a diplomatic mission to Paris by the provisional government of the empire. Afterwards he was also elected a member of the upper chamber at Berlin. The latest production of his pen is his "Memoirs and Correspondence," 2 vols.—K. E.
RAUPACH, Ernst Benjamin Salomo, a popular German dramatist, was born at Straupitz, near Liegnitz, May 21, 1784. After studying theology at Halle, he became private tutor at St. Petersburg, where soon after he obtained the chair of German literature in the university. In 1822 he resigned, and retired to Berlin, where he died 18th March, 1852. His numerous dramatic productions, both tragic and comic, show great knowledge of the stage, but are deficient in the higher qualities of poetry and in moral purpose.—K. E.
RAUWOLF, Leonard, a medical man and naturalist, was born at Augsburg towards the middle of the sixteenth century, and died in September, 1596, at Hatvan. He prosecuted the study of medicine with the view of acquiring a knowledge of natural science, and in 1560 he travelled in Italy and France. He became acquainted with many celebrated botanists. He passed as doctor of medicine at Valence in Dauphiny, and then visited Switzerland and various parts of Germany. He collected many rare plants, some of which he afterwards cultivated in his garden at Augsburg. For some time he acted as chief physician in his native town. In 1573 he departed on a journey to the Levant. He visited Syria, the Euphrates, the ruins of Babylon, Bagdad, and the country of the Kourds. In 1575 he was at Mossul on the Tigris. After visiting Mesopotamia he returned by Orfa to Aleppo and Tripoli. Thence he proceeded to Palestine, Jerusalem, Lebanon, and other important eastern places, and returned to his native city in 1576. He acted for many years as physician to the Plague hospital. In 1588 he was compelled to quit Augsburg, in consequence of refusing to become a Roman catholic. He became physician at Lintz, and subsequently served in the Austrian army as a medical man. He published an account of his travels in eastern countries. He made a large collection of plants in Palestine, which has been placed in the library of the university of Leyden. A genus of plants has been named Rauwolfia by Plumier.—J. H. B.
RAVAILLAC, François, the assassin of Henry IV. of France, was born at Angoulême in 1578 or 1579. He entered the order of the Feuillants, who, however, expelled him as a visionary. The natural gloom of his temperament was aggravated by an unsuccessful lawsuit, which led to his imprisonment for debt, in the course of which he is said to have been haunted by visions. In this morbid state of mind, the denunciations of the fanatical adherents of the League produced such an impression upon Ravaillac, that the very name of a Huguenot roused him to fury. He conceived an especial hatred against Henry IV., and determined to murder him. On the 14th of May, 1610, the king was proceeding in his carriage along the Rue de la Ferroniere, when it was stopped by some waggons. Ravaillac, stepping on the wheel of the carriage, stabbed Henry twice to the heart, and death was instantaneous. The assassin made no attempt to escape, but remained till he was arrested with the bloody knife in his hand. He was put to the torture, but declared that he had no accomplices, and that he had been compelled to do the deed by an uncontrollable instinct or feeling. He was torn to pieces by wild horses in the Place de Grève on the 27th of May.—J. T.
RAVENET, Simon François, a celebrated engraver, was born at Paris about 1710, according to some, but Zani says in 1721. He studied with J. P. Le Bas, practised his art in Paris till 1750, and then came to England in order to assist Hogarth in engraving the series of plates of Marriage-a-la-Mode. He was afterwards much employed by Alderman Boydell; engraved many portraits of eminent men of the day, and some plates after the great masters. Ravenet drew well, and engraved in a neat firm manner. He was elected associate engraver of the Royal Academy, and died in London in April, 1774.—His son, Simon Francis Ravenet, born in London in 1755, studied engraving under his father, and painting in Paris under F. Boucher. He then went to Parma, where he undertook to engrave Correggio's paintings in the cathedral and churches of that city. These he completed in a slight manner about 1785, and afterwards some prints from Rubens, &c. He died about 1813.—J. T—e.
RAVENNA or RAVIGNANO, Marco Dente da, an eminent Italian engraver, was born at Ravenna in 1496. He was a pupil of Marcantonio Raimondi, and imitated the manner of his master, but was less refined in style and altogether inferior. He was, however, a very able engraver, spirited in execution, and painter-like in feeling, and his prints are much esteemed. The best are those after Raphael and Giulio Romano. His Raphael engravings include the Transfiguration, the Bible subjects, a series of thirteen from the history of Christ, St. Michael, &c. Another noted print by him is the ancient group of the Laocoon. Marco da Ravenna was killed at the sack of Rome in 1527.—J. T—e.
RAVENSCROFT, Thomas, a musician, of whom little is known beyond certain brief intimations contained in his own works. From these works it appears that he was born in 1592, and in due time became a chorister of St. Paul's cathedral, London. He speaks of his tutor, Mr. Edmund Pierce, the master of the choristers, as "a man of singular eminence in his profession." At the early age of fourteen, Ravenscroft took his degree of bachelor of music at Cambridge. Though university degrees were in that day taken at an earlier age than in the present day, yet was the age at which he graduated unusually early. In 1609, when only sixteen, he was the editor of the curious collections of rounds and catches, known as "Pammelia" and "Deuteromelia;" and in 1611 he was the author of "Melismata, or Musicall Phansies fitting the Court, Citie, and Countrey Humours." In 1614 he published "A Brief Discourse of the true (but neglected) use of charact'ring the Degrees by their Perfection, Imperfection, and Diminution in Measurable Musicke." This work, which contains some charming part songs on the subjects of hawking, hunting, dancing, drinking, &c., is dedicated "To the right worshipfull, most worthy grave senators, guardians, of Gresham college in London." As a reason for this dedication he says, "I must and do acknowledge it as a singular help and benefit, that I have receiv'd divers instructions, resolutions, and confirmations of sundry points and precepts in our art, from the musicke readers of that most famous colledge." In 1621 Ravenscroft published his "Whole Booke of Psalms," a work which has been of material use to his successors. It is a noble collection of psalm tunes, harmonized by all the principal English
