Mignard

Mignard refers primarily to a French family of painters, most notably Pierre Mignard (1612-1695), known as "Mignard le Romain," and his brother Nicolas Mignard (1606-1668), called "Mignard d'Avignon."

• Pierre Mignard (1612-1695): A prominent portrait painter during the reign of Louis XIV. He spent a significant portion of his career in Rome, hence the nickname "le Romain." He was a rival to Charles Le Brun for the position of Premier Peintre du Roi (First Painter to the King), eventually succeeding Le Brun after his death. Mignard was known for his flattering and graceful portraits of the French aristocracy.

• Nicolas Mignard (1606-1668): Also a painter, but less internationally renowned than his brother. He worked primarily in Avignon and was known for his religious and mythological scenes, as well as portraits.

The term "Mignard" can therefore be used in art historical contexts to refer to either Pierre or Nicolas Mignard, or potentially to members of their artistic circle or school. Distinguishing between the two often requires examining provenance and stylistic characteristics of the artwork in question.