The Palace and Park by Phillips, Forbes, Latham, Owen, Scharf, and Shenton

[Born at Dreux, in France, 1609. Died there, 1650, Aged 41.] One of the creators of French tragedy. To him Corneille is indebted for the idea of founding a tragedy upon the subject of the Cid--for it was at his instigation that the great master first looked to the Spanish stage for inspiration and guidance. Rotrou gloried in the success of Corneille, and generously maintained his superiority over all dramatic writers in France--including himself. He left thirty-seven dramatic pieces, and many of them exhibit power and great felicity of language. He enjoyed a civil office in his native town, where he was much respected. He was cut off by an epidemic. [The original is in marble, by Caffieri. The costume is of the time of Louis XIII.; but the bust must have been done from some painted portrait, as it bears the date of 1783, and Caffieri was not born until 1723.]