Jan, called by the Italians Giovanni della Vite, a Flemish painter, was born in 1599 at Vlaenderen, a village in the neighbourhood of Antwerp. He studied under Gerard Seghers; and after making considerable progress in his art, he went to Rome, and entered the academy of Andrea Sacchi. But in consequence of a disagreement with his master he left the imperial city for a time, and went to Bologna and Parma, where he further improved himself by the study of the works of the Caracci and of Correggio. Returning to Rome, he executed for the pope several historical paintings of great excellence; but his taste, which seems to have been capricious, now rather inclined to the painting of familiar scenes, after the manner of Bamboccio. He was invited to the court of Charles Emmanuel, Duke of Savoy, whose patronage he enjoyed, and by whom he was honoured with the order of St Maurice. Miel died in 1664 at Turin. His pictures represent chiefly carnivals, fairs, beggars, gypsies, and hunting scenes; and are remarkable as spirited and correct representations of nature; but his colours are in many instances too dark and gloomy.

Mieris, Francis, an artist, was born at Leyden in 1635. His father, who was a goldsmith, was not favourable at first to the wishes of his son to study the art of painting; but owing to the progress made by Francis in painting on glass, he was induced to allow him to enter the school of Gerard Douw. The young artist soon outshone all his fellow-students. Mieris is remarkable for the beauty of his colouring and the minuteness and truth of his delineations. The quality of the dresses of his figures can be easily distinguished; and his paintings of silk, satin, and velvet, are highly admired. His subjects are for the most part ordinary domestic scenes. One of these, the picture of a fainting lady and a physician, was sold for 1500 florins. Mieris died in 1681.

Mieris, Francis, grandson of the preceding, was born at Leyden in 1689. Although he learned from his father the art of painting, he did not achieve any great success in that department. He is more celebrated as a historian and antiquary, and is the author of several works, of which the most important are: Historie der Nederlandse Vorsten, the Hague, 1732-35; and Groot Charterboek der Graven van Holland, Zeeland, en Vriesland, Leipzig, 1753-56. He died suddenly in 1763, while engaged in writing a history of his native town.

Mieris, William, an artist, the son of Francis Mieris the Elder, was born at Leyden in 1662. He imitated the style of his father, but having lost him by death just as he was entering on the study of his art, he was deprived of the advantage he might otherwise have derived from his skill and experience. As a painter, he is not equal to his father in the nice and elaborate accuracy of his works; but for bright and gorgeous colouring, and for the minuteness of his imitation of natural objects, his pictures are much esteemed, and sometimes even placed above those of his father. He has painted many ordinary scenes from nature, and also many historical and poetical pieces. His landscapes are often unnatural, and his costumes are not always appropriate. He died in 1747.

Mignard, Nicolas, a French artist, was born at Troyes in Champagne about the year 1605. He was brought to Paris by Mazarin, who was his constant patron; and Louis XIV employed him to execute several paintings in the Tuileries. He was most successful in historical and poetical subjects; but he also painted many portraits of the lords and ladies of the French court, which are much admired. He died in 1668.

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 II 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.

Mignon, Minjon, or Minjon, Abraham, a painter, was born at Frankfort-on-the-Maine in 1640, and studied at Utrecht under Jan David de Heem. Having a natural taste for art, and also great skill and aptitude in painting, he added to these advantages the most unwearied diligence in the imitation and study of nature, and thus soon rose to great eminence as a painter. Mignon is remarkable for the accuracy of his representations and the beauty of his colouring, and his works are in general very highly prized. His paintings, which are rare, represent chiefly flowers, fruit, insects, birds, fish, &c. He died in 1679.

Mihiel, St., a town of France, department of Meuse, and arrondissement of Commercy, on the right bank of the River Meuse, 9 miles N.N.W. of Commercy. It is a neat and well laid-out town, and has several remarkable churches, in one of which is a fine bas-relief of the "Entombment of Christ." St Mihiel has also a court of assize, communal college, public library; and manufactures of cloth, yarn, and leather. Pop. 5274.