GKETNA GREEN. 272 GREVILLE. and the presence of a priest. The law of Scot- laud required nothing but a mutual declaration of intention to be e.xchanyod in presence of wit- nesses — a ceremony which could be jx-rformed instantly; and it 'was immaterial whether the parties were minors or not. This declaration generally took place in presence of a blacksmith, who in reality was no more necessary than any other witness, but who gradually assumed an authority which imposed on the credulity of the English strangers, and profited by the liberality usually disjiensed on such ausjdcious occasions for his trilling sen-ices. The declaration of mar- riage being exchanged, the parties could return at once to England, and their marriage was held valid there and the world over, under the rule of law that the validity of a marriage is governed by the law of the place where it is contracted {lex loci coniractus) . The severity of the Eng- lish marriage law has been modified; the Scotch law has been altered, with a view of checking this evasion of English law: and by 19 and 20 Vict., ch. 96, no irregular marriage of that kind in Scotland is now valid unless one of the parties had at the date thereof his or her usual place of residence there, or had lived in Scotland for twenty-one days next preceding such marriage. See M.RRIAGE. GK:^TRY, gra'tre', A^'DK£ Eknest Modeste (1741-1813). A once celebrated French dramatic composer, born at Li6ge. His earliest musical ex perience was as a chorister in a local church, but, as it proved unsatisfactory, he was placed under private teachers. Abovit this time he first heard an operatic performance, which strongly incited him to the study of harmony and counter- point on ]iis own account. He was, however, a poor student, and so impatient to create that at seventeen years of age he had produced six symphonies, and in 1759 Avrote a mass which so interested an influential Church dignitai'y as to gain for its composer the means to study in Rome, where for five j'ears he studied at the Coll&ge de Li6ge. Here the same characteristics that had ]>reviously marred his educational prog- ress prevented any real advancement in the broader field of musical art, and. following his own inclinations, he turned toward dramatic music, his first venture, an intermezzo, Le ren- demnriatrice (1765), being well received. After sta3ing in Eome nine years, he went to Geneva on a fruitless mission to secure a libretto from Voltaire. Acting on the latter's advice, he made his Avay to Paris, where, after two years of hard- ship, he succeeded in obtaining the patronage of Count Creutz, the Swedish Minister, who se- cured him Mamiontel's Le Enron (1768). for which he wrote the music, and through which he rose to fame. Nearly everything he wrote sub- sequently was enthusiastically received, notwith- standing a great many musical defects, and the overshadowing of his work by the greater genius of Mfhul and Cherubini. EUeviou, the great tenor, did much to revive an interest in Gretry, the composer's glowing melodies and strong dra- matic expression giving a chance for the display of his magnificent voice. Eventually, the progress of the public taste in music caused his works to be neglected, and ultimately almost forgotten. He wrote about fifty operas and much dramatic music, piano sonatas, instrumental numbers, masses, and Church music generally, most of which were published, and enjoyed more or less popularity. He had but a superficial loiowledge of the theory of music and the science of har- mony. Breitkopf and HUrtel commenced in 188;) a complete edition of his works. Consult : A. J. tiretry, Gri-tri/ en famille (Paris, 1815) ; Brunei, y olive hio(ir(>i>)iiqiie siir Qretrij (Paris, 1884). GREUZE, grez, Jean Baptiste (1725-1805). A French genre painter. He was born at Tournus, in Burgundy, August 21, 1725. His talent was recognized and encouraged by the l.yonnese painier Gronidon, who taught him and took liim to Paris. There Greuze studied in the schools of the Academy, and attracted attention by his first pictui'e, "A Father Explaining the Bible to His Children." His succeeding works placed him at the head of the French genre painters of the day. Jloved by the taunts of the Classicists, he went to Rome in 1755, but his visit exercised little influence upon his art. He sent an unfortunate historical painting, "Severus. and Caracalla," for admission to the Academy, and was admitted, but expressly as a genre painter. He returned in anger, and did not ex- hibit until after the Revolution, in 1804. In the meantime he had lost his wealth, and he died in poverty in Paris, March 21. 1805. Greuze's art renresented a reaction from the artificial art of the Rococo. He succeeded espe- cially well with young girls. His manner was somewhat aflFected, but he was a fine colorist, and executed his works with great finish. His portraits of women and children are very beauti- ful, but he was not always successful in por- traying the best expression of his sitters. A follower of Watteau, his work is charmingly picturesque, although too sentimental to be al- together pleasing. The Louvre contains a niunber of his chief works: the "Village Marriage," the "Father's Curse," the "Son Punished," the "Broken Pitcher," besides portraits of the artist and other persons. Other works are in nearly all the chief galleries of France, Germany, and Great Britain, among which the "Girl with an Apple," National Gallery, London: "Girl with a Music Book." Berlin': and a "Man with the Gout," at Dresden, are particularly well known. Consult Normand, Jean Baptisle'Greuze (Paris, 1892). GREVE, grav. Place de la. The former name of the present Place de I'Hotel de Ville at Paris, so called from its position on the river bank. i was a favorite gathering place of un- employed laborers, and the scene of the chief popul.ir festivities. In it many famous criminals and political offenders have been executed, among them Eavaillac, the murderer of Henry IV., the jNlarquise de Brinvilliers, the highwayman Car- touche, and Damiens, the would-be assassin of Louis XV. The place received its present name in 1806. GREVILLE. In Richardson's Sir Charles Gramlison. the tiresome, persistent, and immense- ly self-satisfied suitor of Harriet Byron. GREVILLE, CiiAELEs Cavendish Fulke (1794-1865). An English diarist. He prepared for college at Eton, entered Christ Church Col- lege. Oxford, but left without a degree to liecome the private secretarv of Lord Bathurst. Later he was appointed to the secretaryship of .Jamaica — a sinecure position, as he never visited the is- land. At the age of twentv-seven he became clerk
