BOISSARD, JEAN JACQUES (1528-1602), French an tiquary and Latin poet, was born at Besancon. He studied at Louvain and, on leaving, went to Italy, where he remained for many years. He became interested in antiquities, and formed a large collection. He returned to France, but, not being allowed to profess publicly the Protestant religion, which he had embraced some time before, he withdrew to Metz, where he died on Oct. 3o 1602.
His most important works are: Poemata ; Emblemata (1584) ; Icones Virorum Illustrium (1597) ; Vitae et Icones Sultanorum Turci corum, etc. (1597) ; Theatrum Vitae Humanae (1596) ; Romanae Urbis T o pographia (I 597-1602) , now very rare; De Divinatione et Magicis Praestigiis (16o5) ; Habitus Variarum Orbis Gentium 0580, orna mented with 7o illuminated figures.