MIGNARD, PIERRE, an eminent French artist, brother of the preceding, was born at Troyes in 1610. At the age of eleven he was placed in the school of Jean Boucher at Bourges; and he afterwards studied under Vouet. Such was his genius, and so rapid was his progress in his art, that his works could hardly be distinguished from those of his master; and at the age of fifteen he was commissioned by the Marshal of Vitry to execute some paintings in his castle. In 1636 he went to Rome, where he remained for twenty-two years, engaged in the study of the works of the best Italian painters, and forming his style so much upon the model of the Roman school that he acquired the surname of Il Romano. He painted many historical pieces and portraits; among the latter, in which he displayed his genius and skill in a remarkable manner, were those of the Popes Urban VIII. and Alexander VII. In 1658 he was invited to the court of Louis XIV. He immediately set out on his journey thither; and on his way through the duchies of Tuscany, Modena, and Parma, he executed portraits of the reigning princes of these states. At Paris Mignard was made head of the academy of St. Luke; and after the death of Le Brun, became chief painter to the king. He painted Louis XIV. no less than ten times. The following anecdote is related of him as he was taking the tenth portrait of that monarch:—The king, seeing the painter looking at him with attention, said, "Mignard, you think I look older?" "Sire," answered the painter, "it is true that I see some more victories on the forehead of your majesty." Among the principal works of Mignard was the fresco-painting in the dome of the Val-de-Grâce, one of the greatest works of that sort of which his country can boast. It was celebrated in verse by Molière; with whom, as well as with Boileau and Racine, Mignard was very intimate. The paintings of this artist are certainly inferior to those of the great masters whom he took as his models; but they are distinguished for grace and beauty, and he was so extremely successful in his imitations of other painters, as to deceive even the best judges. He died in 1695.