(M. Salvius), a Roman emperor, born A.D. 32, of a family descended from the ancient kings of Etruria. He was among the number of Nero's favourites, and accordingly was raised to the highest offices of the state, and made governor of Pan- nonia by the interest of Seneca, who wished to remove him from Rome, lest Nero's love for Poppea should prove his ruin. After Nero's death Otho conciliated the favour of Calba the new emperor; but when he did not gain his point, and when Galba refused to adopt him as his successor, he resolved to make himself absolute, without any regard to the age or dignity of his friend. The great debts which he had contracted encouraged his avarice; and he procured the assassina- tion of Galba, and made himself emperor. He was acknowledged by the senate and the Roman people; but the sudden revolt of Vitellius in Germany rendered his situation very precarious, and it was mutually re- solved that their respective right to the empire should be decided by arms. Otho obtained three victories, but in a general engagement near Brixellum his forces were defeated, and he stabbed himself when all hopes of success had vanished. This happened about the 37th year of his age, after a reign of about three months. It has been justly observed, that the last moments of Otho's life were those of a philosopher. He comforted his soldiers who lamented his fortune, and he expressed his concern for their safety when they earnestly solicited to pay him the last friendly offices before he stabbed himself; and he observed, that it was better that one man should die than that all should be involved in ruin on account of his obli- gation. His nephew was much affected, and feared exceedingly the anger and haughtiness of the conque- ror; but Otho comforted him, and observed, that Vi- tellius would be kind and affectionate to the friends and relations of Otho, since Otho was not ashamed to say, that in the time of their greatest enmity the mother of Vitellius had received every friendly treatment from his hands. He also burnt the letters which, by falling into the hands of Vitellius, might provoke his resentment against those who had favoured the cause of an unfortunate general. These noble and humane sentiments in a man who was the associate of Nero's shameful pleasures, and who had stained his hand in the blood of his master, have appeared to some won- derful, and have passed for the features of policy, and not of a naturally virtuous and benevolent heart. His father was a favourite of Claudius.

tribune of the people, who, in Cicero's consulship, made a regulation to permit the Roman knights at public spectacles to have the first rows after the seats of the senators. This was opposed with virulence by some, but Cicero ably defended it, &c.

(Venus), a very celebrated Dutch painter. He was descended of a considerable family in Leyden, and was born in 1556. He was carefully educated by his parents in the belles lettres, and at the same time learned to design of Isaac Nicholas. He was but 15 when the civil wars obliged him to leave his country. He retired to Liege, finished his studies, and there gave the first proofs of the excellence of his mind. He was well known to Cardinal Groesbeck, who gave him letters of recommendation when he went to Rome, where he was entertained by Cardinal Meduccio. His genius was so active, that he applied himself to philosophy, poetry, mathematics, and painting, all at once. He became a great proficient in designing under Frederico Zuchero. He acquired an excellence in all the parts of painting, especially in the knowledge of the claro obscurro; by which means he came to be accounted one of the most ingenious men of his age. He lived at Rome seven years, during which time he performed several rare pieces; and then passing into Germany, was received into the service of the emperor. After this the duke of Bavaria and the elector of Cologne employed him; but all the advantages he got from the courts of foreign princes could not detain him there. He had a desire to return into the Low Countries, of which Alexander Parneef, prince of Parma, was then governor. He drew the prince's picture, armed cap-a-pie, which confirmed his reputation in the Netherlands. After the death of that prince, Venius returned to Antwerp, where he adorned the principal churches with his paintings. The archduke Albert, who succeeded the prince of Parma in the government of the Low Countries, sent for him to Brussel, and made him master of the mint; a place which occupied much of his time, yet he found some time for the exercise of his profession. He drew the archduke and the infanta Isabella's portraits at large, which were sent to James I. of Great Britain; and, to show his knowledge of polite learning likewise, he published several treatises, which he embellished with cuts of his own designing. Louis III. made him very great offers to tempt him into his service; but he would never leave his own country, satisfying himself with the character and employments he held there. He was the first, after Polydore Caravaggio, who reduced the claro-obscurro to a principle of the art of painting. Rubens perfected what he began, and the whole Flemish school learned it of him. Venius died at Brussel, 1634, in his 78th year. He had two brothers, Gilbert, who was a graver, and Peter a painter. He had also the honour of breeding up the famous Rubens in his art.