Guillaume-Desire-Joseph Descamps, a painter and engraver, was born at Lille in 1779. He was a pupil of Vincent, but, obtaining the "prix de Rome," he improved himself by travelling in Italy, and became court-painter of Murat in Naples. He died in Paris in 1858. The following paintings were executed by him:
The Women of Sparta (in the Lille Museum). 1808.
The Martyrdom of St. Andrew (in St. Andre, Lille).
Murat on board the Ceres distributing Rewards (engraved hy himself).
The Conversion of St. Augustine (in St. Eustache, Paris).
The Apotheosis of Cardinal Tommasi (in San Martino di Monti, Rome).
The Neapolitan Troops marching out against Capri.