BAPTISTE, or JEAN BAPTISTE MONNOYER, a painter of flowers and fruit, was born at Liège in 1635, and educated at Antwerp. It was his first intention to become a painter of history; but finding that his genius more strongly inclined him to the painting of flowers, he applied his talents to those subjects, and in that style became one of the greatest masters. His pictures are not so exquisitely finished as those of Van Huysum, but his composition and colouring are in a bolder style. He was employed by William III. to decorate Kensington Palace. He died in 1699, leaving a son, Anthony, who followed his father's profession, and had great merit.