POUSSIN (Gaspar). This painter, whose real name was Daghet, was born at Paris in 1600; and was induced to travel to Rome, not only from a love to the art of painting, but also to visit his sister, who was married to Nicholas Poussin. Sandrart says that Gaspar was employed at first only to prepare the pallet, pencils, and colours, for Nicholas; but by the precepts and example of that excellent master, gradually rose to the highest reputation, and is undoubtedly one of the best landscape-painters that ever appeared. It is generally thought that no painter ever studied nature to better purpose, or represented the effects of land-storms more happily, than Gaspar; all his trees show a natural degree of agitation, every leaf being in motion; his scenes are all beautifully chosen, as are the sites of his buildings. He designed human figures but very indifferently; for which reason he frequently prevailed on Nicholas to paint them for him; and they were always introduced with the utmost propriety. While he continued at Rome he dropped his own name, and assumed that of his brother-in-law and benefactor, by which only he is at present known. He died in 1662.