SCHEFFER,' Ally, a French paidter, b. at Dort, in Holland, Feb. 10, 1795; studied under Guerin of Paris, and made his debut as an artist in 1812. Some years later appeared his "Mort de Saint-Louis," "Le Devouement des Bourgeois de Calais:: and several genre pieces, such as " La Veuve du Soldat," " Le Retour du Conscrit," " La Scour de Charite," "La Scene d'Invasion," etc., which have been popularized in France by engravings; but compared with his later performances these early pictures have little merit. It was not till the "Romantic" movement reached art that Scheffer began to feel conscious of his peculiar power. The influence of Goethe and Byron became conspicu ous in his choice of subjects, and to the remarkable facility of execution that had always marked him, lie now added a subtilty and grace of imagination that give an inexpress ible charm to his works. The public admired his new stria greatly, and lavished eulogy with liberal hand on his " Margeurite ft sun Roust," " Faust Tommente par le Doute," "Marguerite d l'Eglise," "Marguerite an Sabb it," "Marguerite sorlant de l'Eglise," "Marguerite nu Jardin," " Marguerite a in Fontaine," " Les Mignons," " Le Larmo yeur," " Francesca de Rimini," etc. Toward the year 1836 his art underwent its third
and final phase—the r.•igious. To this class belong his " Le Christ Consolateur," "Le Christ Remunerateur." "Les Bergers conduits par l'Ange," "Les Rois Mages deposant leers Tresors." " Le Christ au Jardin des Oliviers," "Le Christ portant sa Croix," "Le Christ enseveli," and "Saint Augustin et sa Mere Sainte Monique," some of which are well known in England by engravings. Sheffer also executed some remarkable por traits; among others, those of CaFayette, Beranger, Lamartine. Ile died at Argenteuil, near Paris, June 15, 1858.