French painter, decorative artist and etcher, coming from a Huguenot family. He began his studies in Paris, and then went to Rome. His acquaintance with Herman van Swanevelt and their subsequent friendship had a considerable influence on Rousseau's career. He married Van Swanevelt's sister and rapidly gained a reputation as a skilled painter of landscapes and views. His tastefully executed works were generally decorated with architectural features, and were produced in the style of Nicolas Poussin. On his return to Paris, he was very well received and found work in the royal residences in Marly, St-Germain-en-Laye and Versailles. Although he was a Protestant, he entered the Académie on 2 September 1662, by special permission of the king. Following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, he fled to Switzerland. Louis XIV recalled him to France, but he went to Holland and then to England, on the Duke of Montagu's request. He worked on the decoration of Montagu House in London, with Charles de la Fosse and Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer. He was also employed to paint decorations at Hampton Court Palace, also in London. There remained almost nothing of his paintings on the exterior walls. He was noted as a painter of trompe l'oil, decorative landscapes and classic ruins. Besides being a painter in oil and fresco Rousseau was an etcher of some ability; many etchings by his hand from the works of Annibale Caracci and from his own designs still exist; they are vigorous, though coarse in execution. //