Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Coquelin, Benoît Constant" to "Costume" / Volume 7, Slice 4

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

32182

Title

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Coquelin, Benoît Constant" to "Costume" / Volume 7, Slice 4

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This volume of the Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica offers a comprehensive alphabetical survey of topics ranging from French actors and Protestant divines to historical figures, geographical locations, and cultural artifacts. It serves as an authoritative reference for arts, sciences, literature, and general information, featuring detailed biographies and encyclopedic entries.

Summary up to 500 words

Volume VII, Slice IV of the Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica serves as a comprehensive reference covering a diverse spectrum of arts, sciences, literature, and general knowledge. The volume opens with entries on French cultural figures, notably the renowned actor Benoît Constant Coquelin and his brother Ernest. Both men were celebrated at the Comédie Française, with Benoît creating leading roles in forty-four new plays before his death in 1909. The text also profiles Protestant theologians Athanase Josué and Laurent Charles Coquerel, detailing their theological debates, editorial work, and roles within the French Protestant movement. Artistic contributions are explored through the entry on Flemish painter González Coques, who specialized in intimate family groups and still lifes, imitating the style of Van Dyck. Geographical and historical entries provide context on locations such as the Coquet River in Northumberland and the Welsh town of Corwen, alongside figures like Roman general Marcus Valerius Corvus and Hungarian magnate János Corvinus. A significant portion of the volume is dedicated to the institution of the corvée, tracing its evolution from feudal labor obligations to public road maintenance. The text explains how this system, while initially a convenience for the poor in an era of scarce currency, became oppressive under modern states and contributed to the French Revolution. The volume concludes with an extensive article on costume, analyzing garments from biblical times through the Renaissance. It critically examines the reliability of artistic representations versus archaeological evidence, noting that medieval illuminators often dressed biblical figures in contemporary attire. The entry cites numerous illustrated works and authorities, distinguishing between first-hand records like contemporary portraits and less reliable historical depictions, thereby offering a rigorous framework for studying the history of dress.

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Categories

• Encyclopedias and dictionaries