, a most learned German lady, was the daughter of parents who were
, a most learned German
lady, was the daughter of parents who were both descended
from noble Protestant families, and was born at Cologne, in
1607. She discovered from her infancy an uncommon facility in acquiring various accomplishments, as cutting with
her scissors upon paper all sorts of figures, without any
model, designing flowers, embroidery, music vocal and instrumental, painting-, sculpture, and engraving; and is said
to have succeeded equally in all these arts. Mr. Evelyn,
in his “History of Chalcography,
” has observed, that “the
very knowing Anna Maria a Schurman is skilled in this art
with innumerable others, even to a prodigy of her sex.
”
Her hand-xvriting in all languages was inimitable; and some
curious persons have preserved specimens of it in their
cabinets. M. Joby, in his journey to Minister, relates, that
he was an eye-witness to the beauty of her writing, in
French, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic; and of her
skill in drawing in miniature, and making portraits upon
glass with the point of a diamond. She painted her own
picture by means of a looking-glass; and made artificial
pearls so like natural ones, that they could not be distinguished but by pricking them with a needle.