François-Pascal Simon, Baron Gerard (1770-1837). French painter. Gérard painted mainly mythological and historical paintings in the neoclassical style, which he took from David, but which he enriched through a dreamy, sometimes mysterious expression. As the court painter of Napoleon and the Bourbons, he created numerous portraits of prominent state and military officials of the empire and monarchy. He also portrayed his friends and relatives abundantly. He can be described as the most popular portraitist of the empire.