III. HORACE VERNET born in Paris on June 3o, 1789, was one of the most characteristic of the military painters of France. He was just twenty when he exhibited the "Taking of an Entrenched Camp"—a work which showed no depth of observation, but was distinguished by a good deal of character. His picture of his own studio (the rendezvous of the Liberals under the Restoration), in which he represented himself paint ing tranquilly, whilst boxing, fencing, drum- and horn-playing, etc., were going on, in the midst of a medley of visitors, horses, dogs and models, is one of his best works, and, together with his "Defence of the Barrier at Clichy" (Louvre), won for him an immense popularity. He was appointed director of the school
of France at Rome, from 1828 to 1835, and thither he carried the atmosphere of racket in which he habitually lived. After his return the whole of the Constantine room at Versailles was decorated by him in the short space of three years. He died at Paris on Jan. 17, 1863.
See Lagrange, Joseph Vernet et la peinture au XVIIIe siecle 0860 ; C. Blanc, Les Vernet (1845) ; A. Dayot, Les Vernet (1898).