, eldest son of the preceding,
was born at Paris in 1649, and acquired the principles of
painting from his father, whom he resembled in his talent
of imitating the works of the greatest masters. After a residence of five years in Italy, he was admitted into the
academy, of which he became a professor, and employed
by Louis XIV. at Versailles and Trianon. He excelled in
history and portrait; his designs were accurate, and his
colouring good. Besides his paintings in fresco, in two
of the chapels of the Invalids, he painted several pieces
for the churches and public buildings of Paris, several of
which have been engraved. We have alsothree etchings
done by him, from his own compositions, viz. a species of
“Almanack;
” “St. John in the Desert
” and “St. Bruno
in a landscape
” its’ companion. He died at Paris in
1717. His brother Louis de Boullongne the younger,
was born at Paris in 1654, and educated under his father,
by whose instruction he made such improvement, that he
obtained the prize of the academy at 18. His studies were
completed at Rome, where he particularly studied the works
of Raphael, and from his copies which were sent home, the
Gobelin tapestries were executed. After his return he was
received into the academy in 1680; and his works in the
churches of Notre Dame and the Invalids, and particularly
his frescos in the chapel of St. Augustin, were so much
esteemed, that Louis XIV. honoured him with his special
patronage, allowing him a considerable pension; conferring upon him the order of St. Michael; choosing him designer of medals to the academy of inscriptions, after the
death of Anthony CoypeJ; appointing him his principal
jminter, and ennobling him and all his descendants. The
academy of painting also chose him first for its rector, and
afterwards director, which place he occupied till his death.
He chiefly excelled in historical and allegorical subjects.
From his performances it appeared, that he had carefully
studied the most eminent masters; his colouring was
strong, his composition was in a good style, the airs of his
heads had expression and character, and his figures were
correctly designed. His regular attendance at the academy, and his advice to the students, commanded respect:
and the general mildness and affability of his disposition
engaged esteem among those who knew him. He raised a
considerable fortune by his profession, and died in 1734.
Two sisters of this family, “Genevieve
” and “Magdalen,
”
painted well, and were members of the royal academy in
1669.