BLOEMEN, Peter Van, a celebrated painter, born at Antwerp, was brother to John Francis Van Bloemen, called by the Italians Orizzonti, and lived for several years at Rome along with his brother. As soon as he found himself competently skilled in colouring and penciling, as well as in designing, he returned to his native city, where, in the year 1669, he was appointed director of the academy. The composition of this master is rich, and his pictures are generally filled with a number of figures. His subjects are, the marchings of squadrons of cavalry, encampments, artillery, battles, Italian fairs, markets, and festivals; in which he shewed great correctness in his design and in his drawing; and an elegance in the manner of dressing his figures, whom he frequently represented in oriental habits. He designed horses in an admirable style; and in his battles gave them abundance of spirit, graceful attitudes, and an expression that was full of life and nature. His landscapes are enriched with elegant architecture, with basso-relievo, and mutilated statues, in a noble taste; and rendered still more pleasing by a good tone of colour, by animals of different kinds, and excellent figures.—His best works are admired in all parts of Europe, and afford large prices; but it is to be observed, that some of his pictures seem rather to be too... Bloemen too much laboured or stiff, and (according to the artists phrase) smell of the palette; and those are proportionally less estimable.

Bloemen, John Francis Van. See Orizonti.

Bloemen, Norbert Van, brother of the preceding, was a painter of portraits and conversations; but in merit was very inferior to his brothers, although he had a good deal of employment.

Blond, Christopher Le, painter of portraits in miniature and all kinds of subjects on paper, was born in 1670. Very few circumstances relative to his education or life are mentioned by any writers till he was known at Rome in the year 1716, being at that time painter to the Count Martinetz, ambassador at the court of Rome. By the solicitation of Overbeck he was induced to go to Amsterdam, and in that city was employed to paint small portraits for bracelets, rings, and snuff-boxes; of which, although they were painted in water-colours, yet the colouring was as lively and natural as if they had been painted in oil. However, as he found his sight much impaired by the minuteness of his work, he discontinued water-colour painting, and attempted the use of oil with a reasonable degree of success. After he had resided for some years in the Low Countries, he went to England, and set up a new method of printing mezzotinto plates in colours so as to imitate the pictures of which they were copies. In this manner he executed in England, several large plates, from pictures of the greatest masters, and disposed of the prints by lottery. But those who obtained the prizes (Mr Strutt says) appear not to have held them in any very great estimation. "The prints (he adds) certainly possess some merit, exclusive of their novelty; but, in general, the colours are flat and dirty; the effect is neither striking nor judiciously managed; and the drawing is frequently very incorrect, especially in the extremities of his figures." Mr Pilkington speaks of them with greater approbation. "The artist (he says) imitated his models with so much skill, such exact resemblance, such correctness of outline, such similarity of colour and expression, that at first they amazed every beholder, who viewed them at a proper distance; and many of those prints are still extant, which are much esteemed by persons of good taste." And Mr Walpole observes, that some heads, coloured progressively, according to their several gradations, bear witness to the success and beauty of his invention. He had another merit to the public, with which few inventors begin; for he communicated his secret in a thin quarto, entitled Coloritte, or "The harmony of colouring in painting reduced to mechanical practice, under easy precepts and infallible rules." His method was performed by several mezzotinto plates for one piece, each expressing different shades and parts of the piece in different colours. He was not, however, it is said, the original inventor of that manner of managing colours, but took it from Lastman and others, who, with much greater regularity of morals, equal capacities, and more discreet conduct, had before undertaken it without success. Le Blond, whose head was continually full of schemes, next set on foot a project for copying the cartoons of Raphael in tapestry, and made drawings from the pictures for that purpose. Houses were built and looms erected at the Mulberry Ground at Chelsea; but the expenses being too great, or the contributions not equal to the first expectations, the scheme was suddenly defeated, and Le Blond disappeared, to the no small dissatisfaction of those who were engaged with him. From hence he went to Paris, where, Basan informs us, he was in the year 1737; and in that city he died, 1742, in an hospital. Le Blond was also author of a treatise, in French, on ideal beauty. It was published in 1732, and has since been translated into English.

Blondel, David, a Protestant minister, distinguished by his skill in ecclesiastical and civil history, was born at Chalons sur Marne, and was admitted minister at a synod of the Isle of France, in 1614. He wrote, 1. A defence of the reformed churches of France. 2. A work against the decretal epistles. 3. De Episcopis et Presbyteris; and other pieces. Bayle informs us, that he had a very singular way of studying; he lay on the ground, and had round about him the books which he wanted for the work he was about. He died in 1665, aged 64.

Blondel, Francis, regius professor of mathematics and architecture, was employed in several negotiations, arrived at the dignity of marshal de camp and counselor of state, and had the honour of being chosen to teach the dauphin the mathematics; he was also made member of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, and director of the Academy of Architecture. He died at Paris in 1688, aged 68. He wrote, 1. Notes on the Architecture of Savoy. 2. A course of architecture and mathematics. 3. The art of throwing bombs. 4. A new manner of fortifying places. 5. A comparison between Pindar and Horace; and other works.

Blondus, Flavius, an historian born at Forli, in Italy, in 1388, was secretary to Eugenius IV. and other popes. He composed a great many books; and, among others, a History from the year 400 to 1440. He died in 1463.

Bloniezy, a town of Poland, in the province of Warsovia. E. Long. 20. 35. N. Lat. 52. 0.