Zurbaran
FRANCISCO, a Spanish painter; born in Fuente de Cantos, Estremadura, Spain, in 1598. His genius showing itself early, he was sent to Seville, where he studied the art under Juan de las Roelas. His style bears a strong resemblance to, and is probably an imitation of, that of Caravaggio; so that he early acquired the title of the Spanish Caravaggio. Most of his works are at Seville, and among them his picture of "St. Thomas Aquinas" is considered the best. He was some time employed at Madrid, and had the title of painter to Philip III. and Philip IV. He died in 1662.
ZURICH (zörik), a N. canton of Switzerland; drained by the Rhine and its tributaries, and traversed from N. W. to S. E. by ridges of lofty hills, between which lie three valleys, forming almost its whole surface those of the Toss, the Glatt, and the Limmat. The last drains the beautiful Lake of Zurich, which, lying 1,341 feet above sea-level, is 25 miles long, and 2½ miles broad at the widest. Zurich has an area of 666 square miles and a pop. of about 425,000. Zurich has not a fertile soil, but it is carefully cultivated. Zurich was one of the earliest seats of the cotton manufacture in Europe, and the spinning and weaving of cotton are still prosecuted with great success. The silk industry is nearly as important; and machinery, bells, type, paper, etc., are also manufactured.