POUSSIN, NICHOLAS, a distinguished French painter, was born at Midelle, in Normandy, in the year 1594. He acquired the rudiments of the art under Ferdinand Elle, a Flemish portrait painter ; but he improved himself rapidly by copying prints after Raphael and Julio Romano, which were lent to him by his friends. At the age of eighteen, he quitted his father's roof, for the purpose of acquiring information; but he was obliged to return by ill health. On his recovery he set off for Rome, but some untoward acci dent again compelled him to return when he had reached Florence. During his stay in France he became acquaint ed with Marino the poet, in whose house he resided, for some time. In 1624, Poussin at last accomplished his de sire of visiting Rome. On his arrival at the capital, he found his friend Marino in a state of had health, which at last proved fatal; but previously to that distressing event, the poet had introduced Poussin to Cardinal Barberini, the nephew of Pope Urban VIII. from whose patronage he had reason to expect the greatest advantages. The cardi nal, however, was despatched on a legation from the pope, and Poussin was left at Rome without any decided patron. This event compelled him to dispose of his pictures at a very low price ; and he is said to have sold his battle-pieces at the price of seven crowns each, and a picture of a prophet for eight livres. The ardour of Poussin to im prove himself in his profession was not damped by those unfavourable circumstances. He copied several of the pictures of Titian, Dominichino, and Raphael ; and, under the roof of II Fiamingo, the sculptor, he studied with assi duity the fine specimens of ancient sculpture which Rome then possessed.
When the Cardinal Barberini returned to Rome, the ta lents of Poussin were brought immediately into notice. The cardinal employed him to a great extent, and paid him liberally for his pictures; and, in a short time, his talents became known in France, not only by fame, but by many of his Italian pictures. The king of France, Louis XIII. was thus induced to write him a letter, requesting him to return to his native country, and, after considerable hesitation, Poussin complied with the request, and arrived in France in 1640.
Poussin rose rapidly in the estimation of the French court, and was immediately employed by the patrons of the arts. His success, however, was attended, as usual, by the envy of inferior artists, and Vouet and Mercier perse cuted him by their criticisms and their intrigues. Disgust. ed with these proceedings, he requested permission to re turn to Rome, where he arrived in November, 1642. In this capital he spent the remainder of his days, prosecut ing his art with assiduity and success. He died at Rome, in the year 1665, in the seventy-second year of his age.
Poussin painted for Prince Justiniani a historical picture, representing Herod's cruelty; and he spent several }-cars on the celebrated pictures of the seven sacraments of the Romish church. His Death of Germanicus has been greatly admired. He never went beyond easel-pieces, for which he had a constant demand; and he was in the habit of fixing the price which he expected on the back of the canvass. A life of Poussin has recently been published by Maria Graham. See PAINTING.