Arnstein, Benedikt David

Austrian playwright, grandson of the famous Vienna banker Adam Isaac von Arnstein; born in Vienna Oct. 15, 1765; died there in 1840. In 1782 he entered his grandfather's banking-house, but left in 1786 to undertake a series of travels which enabled him to make the acquaintance of many distinguished writers of his time. From association with Alinger and Liebel he learned to appreciate the Greek and Roman classics. Such men as Retzer, Schreyvogel, Kotzebue, Ratschky, and Zeon exercised a powerful influence upon him. He published: "Eine Jüdische Familienscene," 1782; "Dramatische Versuche," 1778; "Die Kleinodien," drama, 1796; "Die Maske," comedy, 1796; "Die Pflegetochter," drama, 1798; "Das Billet," comedy, 1800; "Das Geschenk," 1801.

Bibliography:

  * Wurzbach, Biographisches Lexikon der Oesterreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie;
  * Fr. Graeffer, Kleine Wiener Memoiren, ii. 1845;
  * Oesterreichische, Nationalencyklopädie, i. 123.



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