ROUSSEAU, JAMES, an eminent painter, was born at Paris in the year 1630, and studied first under Swanevelt, who had married one of his relations; after which he improved himself by travelling into Italy, practising solely in perspective, architecture, and landscape. On his return home, he was employed at Marly. He distinguished himself very much in painting buildings, and by his knowledge of, and attention to the principles of perspective. Louis XIV. employed him to decorate his hall of devices at St. Germain-en-Laye, where he represented the operas of Iulli. But being a Protestant, he quitted France on the persecution of his brethren, and retired to Switzerland. Louis invited him back; he refused, but sent his designs, and recommended a proper person to execute them. After a short stay in Switzerland, he went to Holland; whence he was invited to England by Ralph duke of Montague, to adorn his new house in Bloomsbury, where he painted much. Some of his pictures, both in landscape and architecture, are over doors at Hamptoncourt; and he etched some of his own designs. His perspectives having been most commonly applied to decorate courts or gardens, have suffered much from the weather. Such of them as remain are monuments of an excellent genius. The colours are durable and bright, and the choice of them most judicious. He died in Soho-square, about the year 1693, aged 63.