FRENC II ACADEMIES. Having taken a general view of some of the most celebrated Italian academies, we shall now give an account of the academical institutions in France. The first of these that claims our notice is the Academie Fran foise, or the French Academy, which was established by Cardinal Richelieu in 1635, for the purpose chiefly of improving the French language, though its plan also comprehended grammar, poetry, and eloquence. This academy has produced many ex cellent works ; but it is chiefly celebrated for its dic tionary of the French tongue, which, after a labour of about 50 years, was published in 1694. It has gone through several editions, and the academy, till its aboli tion by the Convention, was employed in improving it. The history of the academy, to the year 1692, is written by M. Pelisson, and continued to the year 1706 by M. PAbb6 d'Olivet.
The French Academy was followed by that of Paint ing and Sculpture. So far back as the end of the 14th century, we find an institution established at Paris, under the title of the Academy of St Luke. In 1430, Charles VII. conferred upon it many privileges, which were confirmed by Henry III. in 15S4. It was afterwards united with the Society of Sculptors, who had a house near St Denys, where they held their meetings, and dis tributed their annual prizes. This institution had fallen into decay, till it was revived by Le Brun, Sarazin, Cor neille, and some other eminent painters and sculptors, who are generally considered as its founders. There were twelve professors, each of whom attended a month in the year, and in case of absence, their place was sup plied by twelve adjuncts. The acadennsts drew after the model of a naked man, whom the attending professor set in two different attitudes every week. This was called, setting the model. In one of the weeks of the month he placed two models together, which was called, setting the group. The paintings and models formed alter this standard, were called Academics, or Acadruir, Figures. They had likewise a naked woman, who stool for a model in the public school. Three prizes for de sign were distributed among time scholars every three months : two for painting, and two for sculpture, every year. An account of this academy has been published by Guerin, under the title of Description de [Academic Royale de Peinture rt de Sculpture.
While France, from the time of Henry IV. had been rapidly advancing in opulence and power, it was also making great progress in science and learning. Two great literary institutions had already been formed, the labours of which contributed greatly to animate the French to new exertions. This appeared in the forma tion of an academy at Paris by AI. Colbert, in 1663, under the patronage of the king ; the object of which was to study and explain ancient monuments, and to preserve the memory of important events, particularly those of the French monarchy, by coins, inscriptions, relievos, Sec. It consisted at first of only Ihur members, Messrs Charpentier, Quinalt, l'Abbe Tallemant, and Felibien, who were chosen from the Academie Francoise, and met in the library of M. Colbert. From the small num ber of its members, it was at first named Petite Academie ; but about the year 1691, it began to obtain the name of Academie Royale des Inscriptions rt Medailles.
The academy first directed their attention to devices for the hangings of the palace at Versailles, and for ships, buildings, Sec. They then proceeded to give plans of the king's conquests, with views and descrip tions of the cities and principal places. At last they un dertook a medallic history of the king's reign, which, after several interruptions, was brought down to the ac cession of the duke of Anjou to the crown of Spain. In this history, the establishment of the academy itself was not forgotten. One of the medals represents Mer cury sitting, and writing with an ancient stylus upon a brass table. His left hand is supported upon an urn full of medals, and at his feet there are several other medals placed upon a card. The legend, Reruns gestarum fides, and the exergue, Academia Regia inscriptionvm rt numismatum instituta 111.DC.LXIIL signifies that the Royal Academy of Inscriptions and Medals ought to give to future ages a faithful testimony of great actions. The memoirs of the academy are published in a great number of volumes, in which the eloges of the mem bers are written by the secretary. Their motto is, V'etat morn.