CLERC (John le), called Chevalier, an eminent historical painter, was born at Nancy in 1587, but studied in Italy, where he resided for twenty years; and was a disciple of Carlo Venetiano, with whom he worked a long time, and whose style he so effectually studied and imitated, that several of the pictures which were finished by le Clerc were taken for the work of Venetiano. He was most highly esteemed at Venice for his extraordinary merit; and as a token of public respect, he was made a knight of St Mark. His freedom of hand was remarkable; he had a light pencil; and in his colouring he resembled his master. He died in 1633.