Claude, a celebrated architect, was born at Paris in the year 1613. His father, an advocate of the parliament, caused him to study medicine, anatomy, and the mathematics; and he even took the degree of doctor of physic in the faculty of Paris. But Colbert, the celebrated French minister, having advised him to undertake a translation of Vitruvius, the studies in which he found it necessary to engage in order to understand that writer inspired him with a decided taste for architecture, and gave a new direction to his pursuits. When the Academy of Sciences was established, in 1666, Perrault was admitted a member of this body, and was employed to furnish designs and building-plans for the Observatory. But this edifice, which, with all its merits, is in a heavy style, was far from giving any indication of the talents which Perrault afterwards displayed. His grand work is the palace of the Louvre, the façade of which was designed by him, and is certainly one of the noblest monuments of architecture in the world. The building had been commenced, and even part of the façade raised according to the designs of Lavau. But Colbert, dissatisfied with these, which he justly considered as deficient in grandeur, and unsuitable to the nature of the subject, appealed to the genius of other architects; and Perrault produced a design so superior to those of his competitors, that it immediately obtained a decided preference. Nevertheless, before commencing the work, the king wished to have the ideas of the best artists of Italy; and with this view, Bernini, who then enjoyed a great reputation, both as a sculptor and an architect, was sent for from Rome, and received in France with the greatest distinction. But the pre-eminence merit of Perrault was, notwithstanding, fully recognised; his plans were adopted by the court, although objections had been strenuously urged as to the practicability of their execution; and a model constructed by the artist himself at length removed every doubt on the subject, by proving that the difficulties raised were altogether imaginary, and that the solidity of the fabric might be rendered commensurate with the beauty of the design. Such were the preliminaries of the erection of this monument, which may justly be regarded as the masterpiece of French architecture, and the finest edifice that exists in Paris. Perrault furnished designs for other works, particularly the triumphal arch erected at the extremity of the Rue Saint-Antoine, the foundation-stone of which was laid on the 6th of August 1670; and, in all his works, he displayed that superiority of genius, which was first exhibited in his translation of Vitruvius, particularly in the plates with which it was enriched, and which have ever been considered as masterpieces of their kind. The first edition of this work appeared in 1673, and the second in 1684, in one volume folio; after which the translator published an abridgement in one volume 12mo. To the same author we are likewise indebted for another work, entitled Ordonnances des Cinq Espèces de Colonnes selon la Méthode des Anciens, in one volume folio, forming a kind of supplement to the translation of Vitruvius, and containing explanations of several points which had not been touched upon in the notes to that work. Of his other productions the principal are, 1. Essais de Physique, 1680-1688, in two vols. 4to, and four vols. 12mo; 2. Mémoires pour servir à l'Histoire Naturelle des Animaux, Paris, 1671-1676, in folio; 3. Recueil d'un grand Nombre des Machines de son Invention, for raising and transporting the heaviest weights, Paris, 1700, in one vol. 4to. Claude Perrault assisted his brother Charles in preparing the memoirs relating to the establishment of the Academy of Sciences, and that of Painting and Sculpture, and took a warm interest in the success of that institution. He died at Paris, on the 9th of October 1688, in consequence, it is believed, of having wounded himself whilst dissecting, in the Jardin du Roi, a camel which had died of some contagious disease; and the faculty of medicine caused his portrait to be placed amongst those of their most distinguished members.

Perrault, Charles, the brother of Claude, was born at Paris on the 12th of January 1628, and at the age of eight was placed in the college of Beauvais, where he distinguished himself in scholastic disputation, and in making verses with extreme facility, "indice trompeur d'un talent qui ne mérit presque jamais." On leaving school, he found that burlesque was in vogue; and a friend having suggested to him the idea of translating the sixth book of the Æneid in the manner of Scarron, he executed the travesty in a manner which attracted the commendation both of Voltaire and of Marmontel. But when his ideas were matured by reflection, he ceased to attach any value to such effusions; and, having completed his studies, he was admitted as advocate, in which capacity he pleaded two causes with success. Colbert, however, soon deprived the law of his services, and, in the year 1664, appointed him first commissary for the superintendence of royal buildings, an office the duties of which he discharged with equal zeal and ability, nobly justifying the confidence of the minister, and regarding himself as the representative of men of letters and of artists at the court. The Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, and that of Sciences, were founded on memoirs drawn up by Charles Perrault, who had now become comptroller-general of buildings; and he was admitted into the French Academy in 1671, in the room of the bishop of Léon. But the impracticable character of Colbert having at length wearied out his patience, he retired from his public situation, and, devoting himself to literature, produced his poem entitled Siècle de Louis XIV., which appeared in 1687, and involved him in a war with the learned, by reason of his exalting the modern in comparison with the ancient authors. He defended himself, however, in the Parallèle des Anciens et Modernes, which appeared at Paris in 1688, afterwards attracted the notice of Bayle, and excited very considerable attention. One of his principal antagonists was Boileau, who attacked him with great asperity, and, as usual, had all the scoffers on his side; but at length they were, in some measure, reconciled, although, on the part of Boileau, the amende was made in a tone which savoured more of contempt than of conciliation. His poem on Painting was, however, generally admired; but his Tales in verse, entitled Griselidis, Péau d'Ane, and Souhaits Ridicules, are prolix and heavy. Perrault died at Paris on the 16th of May 1703. Besides the works already indicated, he wrote, 1. Recueil des divers Ouvrages en prose et en vers, Paris, 1675, in 4to; 2. Courses de Têtes et de Bagues, faites par le Roi et par les Princes et les Seigneurs de sa Cour, en 1662, Paris, 1669, in folio; 3. Cabinet des Beaux-Arts, ibid. 1690, in folio; 4. A Translation of the Fables of Faërne; 5. Memoirs of his Life, for the use of his children; 6. L'Oublieux et Les Fontanges, manuscript comedies, which, in 1822, passed into the rich and valuable collection of M. de Soleilne. D'Alembert included the eloge of Charles Perrault amongst those of the members of the French Academy (tom. ii. p. 165.) (A.)

Perron, Jacques Davy du, a cardinal, distinguished by his abilities and learning, was born in the canton of Berne in the year 1556. He was educated by Julian Davy, his father, a learned Calvinist, who taught him Latin and the mathematics; after which, by his own exertions, he became acquainted with the Greek and Hebrew, philosophy, and the poets. Philip Desportes, abbot of Tyron, made him known to Henry III. king of France, who conceived a great esteem for him. Some time afterwards Duperron abjured Calvinism, and embraced the ecclesiastical function in the Catholic Church; and having given great proofs of his wit and learning, he was chosen to pronounce the funeral oration of Mary Queen of Scots. After the murder of Henry III. he retired to the house of Cardinal de Bourbon, and took great pains in bringing back the Protestants to the Church of Rome. Amongst others he gained over Spondanus, who was afterwards bishop of Pamiers. He also contributed to engage Henry IV. to change his religion; and that prince sent him to negotiate his reconciliation with the holy see, in which he succeeded. Duperron was consecrated bishop of Evreux whilst he resided at Rome. On his return to France, he wrote, preached, and disputed against the reformed, particularly against Duplessis-Mornay, with whom he had a public conference in the presence of the king at Fontainebleau. In 1604, he was made cardinal by Pope Clement VIII. at the solicitation of Henry IV. who afterwards nominated him to the archbishopric of Sens. The king at length sent him to Rome with Cardinal Joyeuse, in order to terminate the disputes which had arisen between Paul V. and the Venetians. It is said that the sovereign pontiff had such a high opinion of the address of the Cardinal Duperron, that he used to say, "Let us pray to God to inspire the Cardinal Duperron, for he will persuade us to do whatever he pleases." After the death of Henry IV. he retired into the country, where he put the last hand to his work; and, having set up a printing-house, corrected every sheet himself. He died at Paris in 1618; and, after his death, his works were collected and published at Paris in three volumes folio.