we were to arrive at the reasonable interpretation of antiquities. Winkelmann was embued with the spirit of the olden times, practised in criticism, and conversant with the Greek and Roman poets; he discovered and explained afterwards the treasures of art. His " Geschichte der Kunst und des Alterthums" is not only a sample of beautiful prose, but exhibits a wonderful treasure and connexion of archaics. Winkelmann's book and Klopstock's "Messias" have been the means and the origination of an entirely new epoch in our vernacular literature. Winkelmann may be safely regarded as one of the rarest examples of æsthetical study and research. He it was who first began to examine minutely those magnificent remains of ancient art, which have been handed down to us from the classical age, to serve the present generation as the most perfect models of artistical design and execution. His life and soul, we may truly say, were in the Vatican; he was to be seen there from morning till night, exploring and scrutinizing the hoards of human invention, and not unfrequently explaining, very graciously, to the æsthetical visitor, the genius and spirit of those sculptures, amongst which he may almost be said to have lived. By these means he was gradually laying up materials for the accomplishment of that memorable labour, the giving to the world, we mean, his grand æsthetical work, wherein he explains and comments upon the illustrious monuments of classical statuary, with deep feeling, profound enthusiasm, and, at the same time, with a measure of Platonic sagacity. Who can read those wondrous words of Winkelmann, in which he expounds the "Group of Laocoon," the "Torso in Belvedere," and other subjects, and not be touched by the elegant structure and the profundity of his lofty-toned mind? Who is there, that is not transported with admiration, when following the flood of his ideas, in which he unmasks those grand artistic creations of classical art? The effect that his descriptions produce, the sublimity of his style, the harmony of those modulations that his genius knew how to call forth from the harp-sculpture of the age of Alexander the Great, entirely baffle all our powers of narrative: they can only be felt by the understanding mind. The fidelity of Winkelmann's conception, and the astonishing depth of his classical vision, have combined to bestow an infinite value on whatever he wrote, and have raised a monument to his fame, that will abide and be admired in remote ages, just the same as the relics of old Greece are now. We must say, with Goethe:-"Winkelmann's Werke sind ein Lebendiges, für die Lebendigen geschrieben, ein Leben selbst!" He KARL AUGUST BOTTIGER* (1760-1836) Was born at Reichenbach, on the 8th of January 1760. became the head-director of the Dresden museum of ancient marbles, and of the celebrated stucco works of Mengs. He died in 1836. 66 BÖTTIGER gave to the world several archæological works. His “Vorträge über Archæologie,” “ Archæologie der Malerei," and "Amalthea, oder Museum der Kunstmythologie und bildl. Alterthumskunde," possess a great value in the kingdom of art. He also published a work called "Sabina, Morgenscenen im Putzkimmer einer Römerin," giving an account of the domestic life and manners of the Romans,— and conducive, in a certain extent at least, to the real appreciation and understanding of the Latin classics. Böttiger's æsthetical criticisms are profoundly conceived and skilfully constructed. * Dr. Karl W. Böttiger. biographische Skizze. 1837. Karl August Böttiger, eine 68 HISTORIANS AND GEOGRAPHERS. THE quality of historic prose had declined as much in depth and in elegance, as had the vein of metrical composition, before the epoch of the regeneration of poetry, and we have therefore (as far as the annals and development of historiography itself are concerned) to look upon J. C. GATTERER (1727-1799) as one of the first, who, with a store of learning, wrote his works with an historico-critical depth, becoming, at the same time, the founder of the school of historians at Göttingen. Then arose L. T. SPITTLER (1752-1810), one of the most talented writers, whose works have the high praise of being composed in the liberal-minded spirit of the European nation. His language is concise, whilst a remarkable clearness of representation reminds us of Tacitus and Thucydides, whom he evidently adopted as models. Spittler enchanted his hearers at the University, by his deep and psychological glances into history and by the magic of his speech; but since he ceased being a free man (he became a minister), he gave up writing. Whilst Jena entirely took upon itself the idealistic and æsthetic paths of the science, Göttingen became the seat of real and materialistic inquiries, and produced more historians than any other University. Some of them, certainly, such as C. MEINERS (1747-1810),— -never rose above mediocrity. Meiners was a foe to all liberty, opposed to all civilization of nations, and dwarfed down into a mere bookmaker ;-his "Geschichte der Wissenschaften in Griechenland und Rom" will rank as his best work. CH. W. DOHм (1751-1820) was of a superior cast; he was at first professor at the Karolinum at Cassel, and latterly ambassador. His narratives of history and statistical surveys are distinguished by a marked simplicity; no affected geneality or philosophy is discernible therein: this adds to the value of his excellent works, amongst which we may particularly mention "Staatsgeschichte Preussens, Oesterreichs," etc. But at this time, JOHANNES v. MÜLLER'S great talents, in this vein, were developed, and historiography uplifted into pure classicality; the vast objects in Müller's works being achieved with much power. FRIEDRICH VON GENTZ (1764-1832), one of the most talented political writers, and one of the most ingenious diplomatists of his time, may fitly find his place here. JOHANNES VON MUELLER* (1752-1809) Was the son of a clergyman, and was born at Schaffhausen, on the 3d of June 1752. He applied himself to the study of history, in the city of Göttingen, and followed up those investigations in which he afterwards so much excelled, until his life's end. When he died, he was director-general of the public institutions at Cassel. The date of his death is the 29th of May 1809. MÜLLER belongs to the classical historiographers of Germany. Thucydides and Tacitus were his models; and in dealing with his subject, he has, unquestionably, made the noble style of composition, peculiar to the standard writers of the olden times, altogether his own. His language is characterized by an æsthetical beauty, and his mode of giving shape to his thoughts is exceedingly fine. Even if he be now and then wanting in urbanity, he is never without a certain degree of elegance and grace; and if frequently elaborated into obscurity, is, nevertheless, always vigorous and energetic. Müller's most celebrated, and indeed imperishable, works are: "Die Geschichte der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft," and "Vierundzwanzig Bücher, allgemeiner Weltgeschichte."* * Döring, H. Leben Johannes von Müller, 1835. JOHANN WILHELM VON ARCHENHOLZ (1745-1812) Was born on the 3d of September 1745, at Langenfurth, near Dantzic. He was an officer in the Prussian army, and present at the seven years' war, He breathed his last in his villa of Oyendorf, near Hamburg, on the 28th of February 1812. The "Siebenjährige Krieg," by this author, is a work that has never been surpassed by any one, whether we regard it as a copious and accurate exposition of facts, or as a specimen of masterly arrangement, and of an easy, natural style. Archenholz also put forth a publication, bearing the title of “ England und Italien;" the result of a tour in these two countries. It must, however, be confessed, that in this instance he takes far too partial and biassed a view of matters. JUSTUS MESER (1720-1794) 66 Was born at Osnabrück, on the 14th of December 1720; studied jurisprudence at Jena, and in 1747 became “ Advocatus patriæ," and subsequently "Justitzrath." Möser died on the 8th of January 1794. MÖSER has justly been denominated the German Franklin. His popular, yet philosophical style, his clear, unassuming, and withal powerful and vigorous vein, his genuine simplicity and elegance-characteristics, all of them, of the great American-English essayist-imperatively bespeak our admiration. A visit to this country, which Möser paid in his official capacity, towards the close of the seven years' war, and where he remained nearly eight months, would seem to have exercised no inconsiderable influence over his philosophical and political principles-over the latter especially -while it also did much for the enlargement and perfection of his æsthetical notions. The "Patriotischen Phantasien," of this author, are sundry fugitive papers on subjects suggested by the features of the time, which were furnished by him to certain periodical publications. These |
