Via, Alessandro della, an Italian engraver, flour- ished at Venice about 1730. He engraved some por- traits and other sul)jects in an indifferent style, among which is one of the Virgin and Infant Christ, with St. Sebastian and other saints, after Paul Veronese. See Spooner, Jiiog. Hist, of the Fine Aiis, s. v.
Via Dolorosa. See Jerusalem.
Via Media (the middle path), a name which An- glican High-Churchmeii claim for themselves, as hold- ing a middle position between popery and ultra-Protes- tantism. See Oxford Tracts ; Tuactarian.
Viaixnes, Thierri Fagnier de, a French contro- versialist, was born at Chalons-sur-iMarne, INIarch 18, 1659. He was brought up by the Jesuits, and, having entered the Order of St. Benedict (1677) and comf)leted' his studies, he was ordained priest (1683), and divided his attention between preaching and study. In 1689 he fell into disgrace with his superiors for opposing their orders, and was exiled to the abbey of St. Michael
Vexilhini.
VIAL
770
VICAR EPISCOPAL
in Thierache, but he was soon released tlirough the influence of his father. After various adventures, he became (1090-1703) director of an academy at Haut- villiers (diocese of Klieims) ; but, continuius; his opposi- tion to papal authority, he was imprisoned (1704-14) at Vincennes and finally banished. He retired to Bel- gium, and thence to Holland, where he spent the rest of Ills checkered life in the preparation of a few ecclesi- astical works, which are recited in Hoefer, Xoiir. Bio;/. Generale, s. v. He died at Kliynwick, near Utrecht, Oct. 31, 1735,
Vial is the rendering, in the A. V., of ~S, JmIc (from nSS, to dUtil), a bottle or flask, e. g. of oil (1 Sam. x, 1; "box," 2 Kings ix, 1,3); and (pidXi] (I Esdr. ii, 13; Rev. V, 8, etc.), a bowl (q. v.).
Vian. See Van Viane.
Vianagium is a term frequently found in Dug- dale's Monasticon to designate the payment of a certain (luantity of wine in lieu of rent to tiie chief lord of the vineyard.
Viaiii, Antonio Maria (called II Vianino), an Italian painter, native of Cremona, flourished in the latter part of the lOtli century. He acquired a knowl- edge of the art from the eminent painters of Cremona, the Campi, and was then invited by the duke Yincen- zio Gonzaga to Mantua, where he executed several pict- ures for the churches, among which were St. Michael, in tiie Church of Sant' Agnese, and the representation of J/eacen, at the Orsoline, both in the style of his instruc- tors. Besides his work in the churches, he was employed in many other eilifices; and after the death of the duke remained in the employ of his three successors. See Spooner, Biotj. Hist, of the Fine A rts, s. v.
Viani, Domenico Maria, an Italian painter, son of Giovaimi Maria, was born at Bologna in 1608. He received a thorough education in the art from his fa- ther, and then went to Venice, where he studied the old Venetian masters. Some prefer him to his father, but this preference is not entertained by most critics. He suc- ceeded his father in the school which he had establish- ed at Bologna, and instructed several pupils. He exe- cuted many works for the churches of Bologna, Berga- mo, Pistoia, and other neighboring cities. The princi- pal at Bologna are a series representing the Proj^hets and Evangelists, in the Church of the Nativity, and Christ Healim; a Pihjrim, in the C'hurch of the Servi. He died at Pistoia in 1711. See Spooner, Bvkj. Hist, of the Fine A rts, s. v.
Viani, Giovanni Maria, an eminent Italian painter, was born at Bologna in 1037. He studied along with Pasinelli in the school of Flamiiiio Torre. He executed many works for the cliurchcs of Bologna, as well as for other public edifices. He opened a school opposite to that of Cignani, in which he instructed sev- eral pupils. Besides his work as painter, he executed several spirited etchings from his own designs and af- ter Caracci. He died in 1700, See Spooner, Biog. Hist, of the Fine A rts, s. v.
Viaticum (yil^raWy, preparation for a journey) is a term corresponding to the Greek tfoSiov. and used to designate the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper, because they were deemed the necessary pro- vision and armor of Christians to sustain and conduct them safely on their journey through this world to eternal life. More strictly, however, the term viaticum denoted the cucharist given to persons in immediate danger of death, in whicli sense it is still occasionallv used. Death was a journey to the eternal world, and this sacrament was deemed the necessary provision for that journey. The elements were sometimes placed in the coffin of the deceased. The 13th canon of the Ni- cene Council provides that none "be deprived of his perfect and most necessary viaticum when he departs out of this life." Several other canons of various coun-
cils are to the same effect, (iroviding also for the giving of the viaticum under peculiar circumstances, as to per- sons in extreme weakness, delirium, or subject to ca- nonical discipline.
Vibert, Charlks W., an English Wesleyan minis- ter, was born at Penzance, Cornwall, April 3, 1803. He united with the Church in his fifteenth year, was re- ceived into the ministry in 1820, and, in the midst of preparations for removing to South Petherton Circuit, he was attacked with paralysis and died in four hours, at Bromsgrove, Aug. "20, 1854. He was a man of unob- trusive piety, unimpeachable integrity, and conscien- tiously devoted to his work. See Minutes of Weslegan Conferences, 1855,