Jan Frans Van Dael

Jan Frans Van Dael, a Belgian painter, born in Antwerp in 1764, died in Paris in 1840. He began with architecture, was afterward employed in decorating French palaces, and acquired celebrity in France as a fruit and flower painter. He was patronized by Louis XVI., Josephine, and Maria Louisa, and received marks of distinction from Napoleon I. and Louis XVIII. He painted in the style of Van Huysum and of his friend Van Spaendonck, by whose side he was buried in Pere-la-Chaise. His most famous works are "A Girl's Tomb," adorned with flowers and fruit, and "The Crusader." The latter, originally purchased for 15,000 francs by Josephine, afterward became the property of the museum of Antwerp.

Jan Fredcrik Helmers

Jan Fredcrik Helmers , a Dutch poet, born in Amsterdam in 17G7, died Feb. 26, 1813. His principal work is his national poem De Hollandsehe natie ("The Butch Nation") (Amsterdam, 1812, and many later editions), which has been translated into French by Auguste Clavereau. He published a collection of his poems (2 vols., Amsterdam, 1809-'10), and his posthumous writings appeared in Haarlem in 1814-'15.

Jan Klemens Branicki

Jan Klemens Branicki, a Polish statesman, born in 1688, died Oct. 9, 1771. In his youth he served in the French army. About 1715 he returned to Poland, where he rose to the highest dignities, and was an opponent of King Augustus II. and the zealous champion of the nobility. After the death of Augustus III. he officiated as grand constable and first senator of the kingdom, and stood at the head of the republican party. He was offered the crown by a great majority of the nobles; but, backed by Russia, Poniatowski was elected, while Branicki was outlawed, and escaped to Hungary. The new king, however, who was his brother-in-law, soon recalled him, and restored him to his dignities. He was called by the nation the last patriot, and at his funeral was performed for the last time the mediaaval ceremony of the ancient chivalry, that of breaking the coat of arms, and entombing it with the body of the last member of a noble line.

Jan Kochanowski

Jan Kochanowski, a Polish poet, born in the palatinate of Sandomir in 1532, died in Lublin in 1584. He studied in Germany, France, and Italy, and after his return to Poland was employed by King Sigismund Augustus in various missions. His lyrical productions in both Polish and Latin gained him the appellation of the Polish Pindar. Among his writings are a translation of the Psalms in Polish verse, various satires, and a drama. The editions of his works are numerous.

Jan Laski

Jan Laski, commonly known as John a Las-co, a Polish divine, born in Warsaw in 1499, died in Pinczow, Jan. 13, 1560. He was descended from a noble family, and had an uncle who was an archbishop. He entered the church, and rose to the rank of bishop; but having made the acquaintance of Zwingli and other reformers, he became a Protestant, and resigned his bishopric in 1537. After founding at Em-den the first Protestant church in that region, he went to London in 1549, where he had charge of a foreign Protestant congregation. Being compelled to leave England on the accession of Mary in 1553, he went to Frankfort, where he organized the society of Protestant refugees from England and the Netherlands. He returned to his native country in 1556, became the head of the Protestant church in Little Poland, and exerted himself especially to bring about a union of all the Protestant churches of Poland. He left a large number of theological works.