GERARD, FRANOOIS, BARON (177o-1837), French painter, was born on May 4, 177o, at Rome, where his father occupied a post in the house of the French ambassador. His mother was Italian. At the age of twelve Gerard obtained admis sion into the Pension du Roi at Paris. From there he passed to the studio of Pajou (sculptor) ; he left at the end of two years for that of the painter Brenet, whom he left almost imme diately to place himself under David. In 1789 he competed for the Prix de Rome, which was carried off by his comrade Girodet. In the following year (179o) he again presented himself, but the death of his father prevented the completion of his work, and obliged him to accompany his mother to Rome. In 1791 he returned to Paris. David at once availed himself of his help, and one of that master's most celebrated pictures—Le Pelletier de St. Fargeau—may owe much to the hand of Gerard. This painting was executed early in 1793, the year in which Gerard, at the request of David, was named a member of the revolu tionary tribunal, from the fatal decisions of which he, however, invariably absented himself. In 1794 he obtained the first prize in a competition, the subject of which was "The Tenth of August," and, further stimulated by the successes of his rival and friend Girodet in the Salons of 1793 and 1794, Gerard produced in 1795 his famous "Belisaire." In 1796 a portrait of his generous friend, Isabey the miniaturist (in the Louvre) obtained undis puted success, and in 1797 he executed his "Psyche et 1'Amour." In 1799, his portrait of Madame Bonaparte established his posi tion as one of the first portrait-painters of the day. All the leading figures of the empire and of the restoration, all the most celebrated men and women of Europe, sat to Gerard. This extra ordinary vogue was due partly to the charm of his manner and conversation, for his salon was as much frequented as his studio; Madame de Stael, Canning, Talleyrand, the duke of Wellington, have all borne witness to the attraction of his society. Loaded with honours—baron of the empire, member of the institute, officer of the legion of honour, first painter to the king, he died on Jan. II, 1837.
See C. Lenormant, Essai de biographie et de critique sur Francois Gerard (1846) ; Delecluze, Louis David, son ecole et son temps (i855).