GÉRARD, François, a distinguished French historical painter, born at Rome of humble parents in 1770, died at Paris in 1837. He was a pupil of the celebrated David, whom he followed for a time as his model both in politics and art. Abandoning the sphere of politics, however, he finally devoted himself heart and soul to painting, and under the first Napoleon attained high eminence. The best of his ideal pieces are probably his Belisarius and his Psyche, the first of which is well known in Europe by engravings. Equally popular were his Battle of Austerlitz and his Entrance of Henry IV. into Paris. All these pictures are now in the public galleries of France. Though they still look well, they have evidently suffered from the lapse of time; some of them even seem doomed to share the fate of Reynolds' masterpieces, and disappear altogether from the canvas. Gérard was a remarkable portrait painter; and some of the best likenesses of the distinguished personages of his time are by his hand. It is perhaps too much to claim for Gérard the possession of great original genius, but he had a fine fancy and an exquisite taste, grouped his figures admirably, and, though far from being a striking or even a correct colourist, he yet disposed his colours so well as generally to produce a harmonious effect.