Mignard, Pierre (1612–1695)

French baroque painter. Of his decorative schemes, the only remaining example is the cupola of the Val-de-Grâce; he also painted portraits. He was the rival of Charles Le Brun, and succeeded him as director of the French Academy 1690.

After studying with Simon Vouet, he worked for 21 years in Italy, his style based on that of Nicolas Poussin. He returned to Paris 1657. His portraits have a mannered elegance; for example, Madame de Montespan (Troyes) and Marquise de Seignelay (National Gallery, London).

His brother Nicolas Mignard (1606–1668), also a painter of portraits and religious subjects, worked at the court of Louis XIV.