I. CLAUDE JOSEPH VERNET (1714-1789), Who was born at Avignon on Aug. 14, 1714, when only fourteen years of age aided his father, a skilful decorative painter. The sight of the sea at Marseilles and his voyage thence to Civita Vecchia made a deep impression on him, and immediately after his arrival he entered the studio of a marine painter, Bernardino Fergioni.
For twenty years Vernet lived on in Rome, producing views of seaports, storms, calms, moonlights, etc., when he was recalled (1753) to Paris, and executed, by royal command, the remarkable series of the seaports of France (Louvre) by which he is best known. He died Dec. 3, 1789.