UERBIER D'OUVILLY, SIR BALTIIASAR, a miniature painter ud architect, was born at Antwerp about 1593. He came young to 'siglaud, and was a retainer of the Duke of Buckingham'', as early as 613. He accompanied the duke to Spain, and painted a miniature of he Infanta for James I.; he was also employed in the treaty of carriage between Prince Charles and the lafanta Maria, though cting ostensibly only as a painter. lie was employed also in Flanders fter the secession of Charles I. to negociste a private treaty with (pain, the same treaty In which Rubella was commissioned on the art of the Infanta, and about which he came to England. In 1623 to was knighted by Charles at Hampton Court : he was naturalised a 1641, and died in 1667 at llempated-Marshall, the seat of Lord ;raven, which was built by Gerbier himself.
Gerbier was the author of several curious works, which are noticed It considerable length by Walpole. One, entitled ' Les Effete pernicieux les meschants Faverie,' tee., he terms in hie off-haml way—" an igno rant, servile rhapsody, containing little argument, many lies, and some ,urions facts, if the author is to be believed." No. 3384 of the larlcian manuscripts is entitled—" Sir Balthasar Gorbier, his mime iitions and disputes with his three daughters, retired into the English nunnery at Paris, 1646.' One of these daughters was maid of honour a the Princess Cond4, and passed for her mistress when the princess node her escape from Chantilly, when the prince was imprisoned by ffazarin. There is a portrait of one of Gerbier's daughters, as a ittle girl, by Ratans, in the collection of Lord Spencer : there are also two pictures of Gerbier's family attributed to Vandyck ; one eelouging, in Walpole's time, to the Prince of Wales, the other to gr. Sampsou Gideon. Gerbier's portrait in one piece with Dobsou
:he painter and Sir Charles Cottcrel, painted by Dobson, is in Northumberland House; there is or was also in the same collection a miniature of the Duke of Buckingham on horseback, dated 1618, by Gerbier himself. In the Pepys Library at Cambridge there is a lois e.ellaneous collection of robes, &c., emblazoned and illuminated by Gerbier. Gerbier appears to have been a courtier, and to have had a lively care for his own interests; and very much of a charlatan though clever ono. He kept in Charles's favour after the death of Bucking ham, and he was in favour also with Charles 11.: he returned with him to England and designed the triumphal arches which were erected for his reception. Ho was master of the ceremonies to Charles I., and in 1623 entertained him and the queen at his own house, at a supper, which must have cost at least 10004 says a con temporary. Gerbier states in one of his works that Charles had promised him the office of surveyor-general of works, after the death of luigo Jones. From advertisements in the Parliamentary Intel ligence,' ho appears to have given lectures in several languages at his academy in Whitefriare on a great variety of subjects, with an enter taiument of music iu 1649-50.
(Walpole, Anecdotes of Painting, ke.)