The New Student's Reference Work/Gerard, Baron François Pascal

Gerard (zhắ′rär′), Baron François Pascal, a noted painter, was born of French parents at Rome, March 11, 1770, and when young was brought to France and became a pupil of the celebrated painter, David. His work soon brought him into notice, and he became known as the painter of kings. Among the famous people whose portraits he painted are Napoleon, the Queen of Naples and Talleyrand. He was made first court-painter and raised to the rank of baron by Louis XVI11. The grandest of his works are historical pictures, as the Battle of Austerlitz. He died at Paris, Jan. 11, 1837.