BLAAS, Karl von, Austrian painter: b. Nanders, Tyrol, 1815; d. 1894. He studied at the Academy of Venice, and in 1837 he was awarded the Roman prize at the Vienna Acad emy. At Rome he was influenced by Nazarenes and began to devote himself to religious sub jects. In 1850 he was made a professor at the Academy of Vienna, removed as professor to the Venice Academy in 1855, but returned to Vienna in 1866. His noteworthy paintings in clude Journey Through the Desert,' in the Museum of Vienna; 'Visitation,' in the Innsbruck Museum: 'Charlemagne Visiting a Boys' School,' which was awarded a prize at the Paris Exposition of 1855, now in the Venice Museum; (Tullia Driving over her Father's Body' (1832) ; 'Rape of Venetian Brides in the Sixth Century' (1M), now in the Innsbriick Museum; 33 frescoes in the Altlerchenfeld Church, Vienna ; 42 frescoes in the Vienna Arse nal; portraits of Francis Joseph and the Queen of Spain; 'Ekkehard Carrying the Duchess of Suabia across the Threshold of the Monastery.'
Consult his 'Autobiographic' (Vienna 1876).
BLACAS. Pierre Louis Jean Cas imir (Duc DE), French statesman : b. Aulps, 12 Jan. 1771; d. Goritz, 17 Nov. 1839. He was captain of dragoons in 1790 and served in the Vendee. He was cabinet minister in the time of Louis XVIII, and a confidential adviser of the Bourbons; twice Minister to Naples; Am bassador to Rome to negotiate the concordat of 1817; went into exile upon the banishment of Charles X, and offered the King his for tune, which was not accepted. He was so faithful to the Bourbons as to be unpopular with the people. He was a large collector of antiquities and founded the Egyptian Museum at Paris. Consult Vicomte de la Boulage, 'Notice historique sur M. le duc de Blacas' (Paris 1840).