[Born in Paris, 1774. Died at Rome, 1833. Aged 59.]
The son of an humble shopkeeper, and in early years self-instructed. As
a painter he was the pupil of Regnault, under whom he soon became
distinguished for facility of execution and refined composition. He
subsequently studied several years in Rome. In 1822, appointed Director
of the French Academy. He was not distinguished either for design or
colour; but his figures are full of expression. His subjects chiefly
mythological and classical.
[From the marble in the Louvre, by Auguste Dumont, 1831, author of the
statue of Louis Philippe, at Versailles, and lately deceased.]