Venetianer (Moritz), German Pantheist, author of Der Allgeist, 1874, and a work on Schopenhauer as a Scholastic.
Vereschagin (Vasily), Russian painter, b. Novgorod, 1842. He studied at Paris under Gerome, took part in the Russo-Turkish war, and has travelled widely. The realistic and anti-religious conceptions of his Holy Family and Resurrection were the cause of their being withdrawn from the Vienna Exhibition in Oct. ’85, by order of the archbishop. In his Autobiographical Sketches, translated into English, ’87, he shows his free opinions.
Vergniaud (Pierre Victurnien), French Girondist orator, b. Limoges, 31 May, 1759. He studied law, and became an advocate. Elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1791, he also became President of the Convention. At the trial of the King he voted for the appeal to the people, but that being rejected, voted death. With Gensonné and Guadet, he opposed the sanguinary measures of Robespierre, and, being beaten in the struggle, was executed with the Girondins, 31 Oct. 1793. Vergniaud was a brilliant speaker. He said: “Reason thinks, Religion dreams.” He had prepared poison for himself, but as there was not enough for his comrades, he resolved to suffer with them.
Verlet (Henri), French founder and editor of a journal, La Libre Pensée, 1871, and author of a pamphlet on Atheism and the Supreme Being.
Verliere (Alfred), French author of a Guide du Libre-Penseur (Paris, 1869); collaborated La Libre Pensée, Rationaliste, etc. To Bishop Dupanloup’s Athéisme et Peril Social he replied with Deisme et Peril Social, for which he was condemned to several months’ imprisonment.
Vermersch (Eugène), French journalist, b. Lille about 1840. Took part in the Commune, and has written on many Radical papers.
Vernes (Maurice), French critic, b. Mauroy, 1845. Has published Melanges de Critique Religieuse, and translated from Kuenen and Tiele.
Veron (Eugène), French writer and publicist, b. Paris, 29 May, 1825. He wrote on many journals, founded La France Republicaine at Lyons, and l’Art at Paris. Besides historical works he has written L’Esthetique in the “Library of Contemporary Science,” ’78; The Natural History of Religions, 2 vols., in the Bibliothèque Materialiste, ’84; and La Morale, ’84.
Viardot (Louis), French writer, b. Dijon, 31 July, 1800. He came to Paris and became an advocate, but after a voyage in Spain, left the bar for literature, writing on the Globe National and Siècle. In ’41 he founded the Revue Independante with “George Sand,” and Pierre Leroux. He made translations from the Russian, and in addition to many works on art he wrote The Jesuits, ’57; Apology of an Unbeliever, translated into English, ’69, and republished as Libre Examen, ’71. Died 1883.
Vico (Giovanni Battista), Italian philosopher, b. Naples 1668. He became Professor of Rhetoric in the University of that city, and published a New Science of the Common Nature of Nations, 1725, in which he argues that the events of history are determined by immutable laws. It presents many original thoughts. Died Naples, 21 Jan. 1743.