Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Rotrou, Jean de

(Encyclopedia)Rotrou, Jean de zhäN də rôtro͞oˈ [key], 1609–50, French dramatist. One of the Cinq auteurs, five playwrights commissioned by Cardinal Richelieu, Rotrou wrote many plays, including the noble and...

Harlow, Jean

(Encyclopedia)Harlow, Jean, 1911–37, American movie star, b. Kansas City, Mo., as Harlean Carpentier. Harlow brought charm and a sexual knowingness to a series of comedies during the 1930s, becoming the model of ...

Darboux, Jean Gaston

(Encyclopedia)Darboux, Jean Gaston zhäN gästôNˈ därbo͞oˈ [key], 1842–1917, French mathematician. He is known for his work on orthogonal surfaces and for his application of infinitesimal calculus to geometr...

Helleu, Paul César

(Encyclopedia)Helleu, Paul César pôl sāzärˈ ĕlöˈ [key], 1859–1927, French drypoint etcher and painter. He is best known for his drypoint studies and portraits of fashionable women, which have the spontane...

Saint Paul's Cathedral

(Encyclopedia)Saint Paul's Cathedral, London, masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren and one of the finest church designs of the English baroque. It stands at the head of Ludgate Hill, where, according to tradition, a...

Nollet, Jean Antoine

(Encyclopedia)Nollet, Jean Antoine zhäN äNtwänˈ nôlāˈ [key], 1700–1770, French clergyman, experimental physicist, and leading member of the Paris Academy of Science. He constructed one of the first electro...

Oberlin, Jean Frédéric

(Encyclopedia)Oberlin, Jean Frédéric zhäN frādārēkˈ ôbĕrlăNˈ [key], 1740–1826, Alsatian Lutheran clergyman. He was appointed in 1767 to a pastorate in Ban-de-la-Roche, Bas-Rhin dept., France. Oberlin i...

Gérôme, Jean Léon

(Encyclopedia)Gérôme, Jean Léon zhäN lāôNˈ zhārōmˈ [key], 1824–1904, French historical and genre painter. He enjoyed a successful career in his day. He studied with Delaroche and adhered to academic tec...

Flandrin, Hippolyte Jean

(Encyclopedia)Flandrin, Hippolyte Jean ēpôlētˈ zhäN fläNdrăNˈ [key] 1809–64, French painter; student and follower of Ingres. Influenced by the primitivism of Giotto, he is best known for his religious pai...

Jones, John Paul

(Encyclopedia)Jones, John Paul, 1747–92, American naval hero, b. near Kirkcudbright, Scotland. His name was originally simply John Paul. After the Revolution Jones was sent to Europe to collect the prize mone...

Browse by Subject