COYFEL, the name of a family of painters, eminent in the history of French art.
Nora Cover, the first of the family who attained any reputation, was the son of Guyon Coypel, a younger son of a Norman family, and was born in 1623. Guyon practised painting, but apparently with little success. lie placed his son at an early age with Poncet, a pupil of Vouet, a painter at Orleans, and afterwards under a painter named Quillerier. Noel rote rapidly in reputation, and was received into the Academy at Paris in 1663. He was appointed by the king director of the Academy at Rome, where be resided some time, enjoying the acquaintance of Bernini, Carlo Maratti, and other eminent painters of the day. Noel Coypel was a diligent student, and the French Academy in Rome profited greatly by his assiduous example. Having returned to Pads, he wu successively made rector and director of the Academy. Ile died In 1707, working at his art to the last. To a certain extent be was an imitator of Nicolas Poussin, and by way of distinguishing him from the other Coypels he is often designated by French writers ' Coypel le Pourain.' his designs are skilful and spirited, but marred by efTectation. Noel was married twice, and left two sons, Antoine and Noel Nicholas, and many daughters.
Ax•rotss Gorere, Ilia father's pupil, was born In 1661, and accom panied his father to Rome, where lie studied the works of the old masters. lie afterward? travelled for Improvement into Lombardy. Ile left Rome at the ago of eighteen, but had made such progress in h:a profession, that at the age of twenty he was received into the Academy. In 1707 he was made professor and rector, and in 1711
director; In 1716 lie was named ' painter to the king,' ail office which had been for more than twenty years in abeyance; and in 1717 Louis XV. granted him titles of nobility. Antoine Coypel during life had a European reputation. Ile was by far the most famous of the family, and haat much power sad variety In his design ; but the mannered style of the }reach school was not corrected by his study of the Italian, since he was too ready to adopt the artificial graces of Benzin', his friend and adviser. Many of his *twin have been engraved, some by himself, and others by eminent engravers of has awn and the succeeding age. A large part of 'I'llIstelre Numbruatique du Rave do Louis XIV.; is executed from his designs. He wrote a 'Diecours,' and sn 'Epttre en vent,' on painting. Ito died in 1722, leaving one son, CHAR' IDS. al-a a painter, and his father's pupil, who imeceasively postal all the ranks to the highest In the Academy.
Norm NtcnoLas, the second son and pupil of Noel, was born in 102. He was received Into the Academy in 1720, during his brother's rectorate. He did not attract much notice until after his brother's death, but thou rose rapidly is reputation till the time of his own death, in 1731. Noel Nicholas, although not free from the fictitious elegance of his relatives', possesses a cowl lerable feeling for pastoral enjoyment, which is evinced io some rustle compositions. The principal works of all the Coypels are at Paris.