The historic gallery of portraits and paintings: and biographical review : containing a brief account of the lives of the moost celebrated men, in every age and country : and graphic imitations of the fines specimens of the arts, ancient and modern : with remarks, critical and explanatory (Band 4) (London: Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe, 1809)

BRIZARD.

Jean Baptiste Britard, called Brizard, was bom
at Orleans, on the 7th of April, 1721, of parents in com-
fortable circumstances, whom he bad the misfortune to
lose when only ten years of age. He was then brought
to Paris, and placed in the family of his mother, where
he received his education. He displayed, very early, a
disposition for painting; and becoming intimate with
the celebrated Carlo Vanloo, he made such rapid pro-
gress in the art, that at fifteen he found himself able to
enter into competition for the great prize. Some parti-
cular circumstances led him, however, to the stage, on
which he ran a distinguished career. He made his debut
at a provincial theatre, and remained for some time in the
country, performing the principal tragic characters. At
length, flattered by the commendation of Madllc#. Clairon
and Dumesnil, who were capable of judging of his ta-
lents, and further incited by a message from the king,
he determined to quit Lyons, and return to Paris.
Brizard was endowed with extreme sensibility. He
possessed all the qualifications of his art. When he be-
came animated, his acting was sublime. He was as
much indebted to the dignity of his figure, and the
beauty of his hair, as to the warmth of his imagination for
his fame as an actor. Having one day narrowly escaped
being drowned, in consequence of a boat in which he
wras seated being carried under the bridge of Saint Esprit
by the rapidity of the waters of (he Rhone, he was so
greatly terrified, that the next morning he perceived that