COYPEL, the name of a French family of painters. Noel Coypel (1628-1707), also called, from the fact that he was much influenced by Poussin, COYPEL LE PousslN, was employed by Charles Errard to paint some pictures required for the Louvre. In 1672 he was appointed director of the French academy at Rome. After four years he returned to France; and not long after he became director of the Academy of Painting. The "Mar tyrdom of St. James" in Notre Dame is perhaps his finest work.
His son and pupil, ANTOINE COYPEL (1661-17 7 2 ), was more celebrated than his father, with whom he spent four years at Rome. At the age of 18 he was admitted into the Academy of Painting, of which he became professor and rector in 1707, and director in 1714. In 1716 he was appointed king's painter, and he as ennobled in the following year. He was a clever etcher, and engraved several of his own works. His Discours prononces dans les conferences de l'Academie royale de Peinture, etc., appeared in 1741.
Antoine's half-brother, NOEL NICHOLAS COYPEL (1692-17J4), was also an exceedingly popular artist; and his son, CHARLES ANTOINE (I 752), was painter to the king and director of the Academy of Painting.