GERARD, FRANcots PASCAL, Baron (1770 1837). A French historical and portrait painter. He was born in Rome, March 4, 1770, and in 1782 came to Paris with his father, an employee of the French Ambassador in Rome. He first studied sculpture under Pajou, but soon took up painting under David (q.v.), and became one of his most famous pupils. this works are in the style of David, but somewhat superior in color. In 1789 he received a second-class medal for his picture "Joseph Recognized by His Broth ers." In 1795 his "Blind Belisarius," now at Saint Petersburg, attracted much attention. Of his remaining classical subjects the best known are: "Psyche Kissed by Cupid" (1798), in the Louvre; the "Three Ages" (1806), now in the Museum of Naples; "Homer" (1811) and "Daphnis and Chloe" (1824), also in the Louvre. He also painted large historical canvases, among which are the "Battle of Austerlitz" (18111 and the "Entrance of Henry IV. into Paris" (1814), in the Museum of Versailles. Both of these paintings are well known through engrav ings. The former was commissioned by Napoleon,
who thought highly of Gerard; the latter brought him the title of Baron, and appointment as Court painter to Louis XVIII., and the cross of the Legion of Honor. Among his other famous paint ings are the "Pestilence at Marseilles" and the "Coronation of Charles IX." (Versailles).
Gerard was also successful as a portrait painter, working in the smooth and elegant man lier popular at that time, although he did not give much character to his subjects. The best of his portraits are perhaps those of the painter Isabey and of his daughter, in the Louvre. His portraits include those of Moreau, Talleyrand, Napoleon (Dresden), and two of Josephine, the Empress Marie Louise, and the King of Rome— three hundred in all. He died in Paris, January 11, 1837. Consult: Adam, Les oeuvres du Baron Francois Gerard (Paris, 1852-57) ; Henri Gerard, Correspondance de Francois Gerard (ib., 1867).