Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Duveneck, Frank

(Encyclopedia)Duveneck, Frank dyo͞oˈvənĕk [key], 1848–1919, American portrait and genre painter and teacher, b. Covington, Ky., studied in Cincinnati and in Munich. In 1875 he showed a group of his canvases i...

Chevreul, Michel Eugène

(Encyclopedia)Chevreul, Michel Eugène mēshĕlˈ özhĕnˈ shəvrölˈ [key], 1786–1889, French chemist. He studied under L. N. Vauquelin, was director of the Gobelin tapestry works, and from 1830 was professor,...

amethyst

(Encyclopedia)amethyst ămˈəthĭst [key] [Gr.,=non-drunkenness], variety of quartz, violet to purple in color, used as a gem. It is the most highly valued of the semiprecious quartzes. It is associated with a num...

Girtin, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Girtin, Thomas gûrˈtən [key], 1775–1802, English draftsman and watercolorist. He was apprenticed to an engraver but was employed, together with J. M. W. Turner, to make topographical drawings. Gi...

Forain, Jean Louis

(Encyclopedia)Forain, Jean Louis zhäN lwē fôrăNˈ [key], 1852–1931, French painter, etcher, and lithographer. One of the foremost etchers of his day, Forain is best known for his political cartoons and social...

flat-coated retriever

(Encyclopedia)flat-coated retriever, breed of large sporting dog developed in England in the mid-19th cent. It stands about 23 in. (58 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs about 65 lb (30 kg). Its dense, flat coat o...

mojarra

(Encyclopedia)mojarra mōhärˈə [key], common name for a member of the family Gerreidae, small tropical food fishes. The many American species are found chiefly off the S Atlantic coast but also along the Pacific...

aureole, in physics

(Encyclopedia)aureole ôrˈēōlˌ [key], in physics, luminous circle seen when the sun or other bright light is observed through a diffuse medium, i.e., smoke, thin cloud, fog, haze, or mist. It sometimes occurs a...

Meryon, Charles

(Encyclopedia)Meryon, Charles shärl mĕryôNˈ [key], 1821–68, French etcher. His short life was saddened by poverty and neglect and complicated by recurring forms of mental aberration. Prevented by color blindn...

Welsh springer spaniel

(Encyclopedia)Welsh springer spaniel, breed of medium-sized sporting dog developed several centuries ago in Wales. It stands about 17 in. (43.2 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs between 30 and 40 lb (13.6–18.1 ...

Browse by Subject