- Performer Name:
- de Clercq
- Performance Venue:
- Performance Date:
- 1822
- Author:
- Date Written:
- 1823
- Language:
- English
- Publication Title:
- The European Magazine and London Review
- Article Title:
- Literary and Scientific Intelligence, Foreign and Domestic (Holland)
- Page Numbers:
- 83:551
- Additional Info:
- June 1823 issue
- Publisher:
- Lupton Relfe
- Place of Publication:
- London
- Date Published:
- 1823
Text:
A native Improvisatore has attracted great attention at Amsterdam. Mons. de Clercq, a distinguished merchant of Amsterdam, had been exclusively engaged from his youth in the business of his counting-house. At the age of twenty seven he was enabled to devote his attention to literature, and to become eminent for his knowledge of history, and of Greek, Latin, Spanish, Italian, French, English, and German literature as well as of the literature of his own country. He gave a brilliant proof of his acquirements by his answer to the question proposed by the Second Class of the Institute. “What influence the literature of Spain, Italy, France, and Germany had had on that of Holland.” The golden medal was voted to him for this answer in the sitting of 1822. He recited with enthusiasm passages from Calderon, Tasso, Voltaire, Byron, and Schiller. On any subject proposed by his friends, M. de Clercq will pour forth a torrent of imagery and fine ideas, clothed in good extempory verse. Professor Kinker of Liege, one of the most eminent poets in Holland, was very incredulous of Mons. de Clerq’s merits, but having heard him give an Improvatore discourse upon the dramatic art, he paid ample homage to his surprising talents. Other eminent men have given an equal testimony to Mons. de Clercq’s genius, and who, it must be observed, joins to these eminent abilities, the most engaging manners and noble principles. We insert this article as it has been transmitted to us by a very eminent literary character in Holland, and who assures us of the truth of it.
Notes:
- Collected by:
- EW