COTJSTOU. 515 COUVADE. COUSTOU, kmi'stcn', XicoLAS (1658-1733). A i'runch sculptor, born at Lyons, the sun of a wood-carver, from whom he received his first in- struction. He studied in Rome from 1083 to ]G86, and settled in Paris, where he became rec- tor of the Academy in 1720. Among his works, many of which «ere destroyed during the Revo- lution, are the marble groups, "I'nion of the Seine and the ilarne." ••Huntsman Resting," "Daphne Pursued liy Apollo," all now in the Garden of the Tuilci'ics; statues of Julius Ca-- sar and of Louis 'XV., in the Louvre: and "Descent from the Cross." in the choir of Notre Dame, one of his best efforts. COUTANCES, kootiixs'. A. town in the Department of La Manche. France, at the conflu- ence of the Soulle and Bulsard, 51^2 miles south of Cherbourg uy rail (JFap: France, E 2). It is built on a conical hill a few miles from the English Channel, and is a picturesque old city. It IS the seat of a bishopric, and its cathedral is one of the finest specimens of ecclesiastical architecture in the early Pointed style of Xor- mandy. Other noteworthy features . are the Gothic Church of Saint Peter's, the public gar- dens and museum, and the ruins of an ancient aqueduct. Coutances has nuinufactures of mus- lins, lace, yarns, pianos and organs, etc.. and a trade in grain. Population, in 1891. 8145; in 1901, 6991. The town is the Constantia of the Romans. For a history and description, consult Aniiiiaire-guide de Coutances (Coutances, 1897). COtJTHON, kTTo'tox', Georges (1756-94). A French politician and revolutionary leadei^, born at Orsay, in Auvergne. December 22, 1750. He practiced law successfully at Clermont, where he acquired great popularity on account of his fine intellectual powers and grave gentleness of character. At first a moderate republican, he was elected to municipal office and later, in 1791, was sent by the electors of Puy-de-Dome to represent them in the Legislative Assembly. He became more and more radical with the progress of the Revolution, and, though a chronic invalid, he poured forth invectives against royalty and the Church from the tribune. He voted for the death of the French monarch without delay or appeal to the country. Elected to the Conven- tion, Couthon attached himself to Robespierre, was appointed a member of the Committee of Public Safety in 170.3, and sent against the in- surgent city of Lyons. After the entrance of the Republican army Couthon showed comparative moderation and controlled the soldiery. Only twenty-four of the insurgents were put to death, and though property was ruthlessly destro^'ed, the lives of the citizens were resjiected until the arrival of Collot d'Herbois (q.v.). Couthon re- turned to Paris, formed with Robespierre and Saint Just a supreme tribunal, and made him- self conspicuous by his extreme virulence against England. He assisted Robespierre in destroy- ing the partisans of Hebert and Danton, but was himself involved in the ruin which over- took his chief. After a vain attempt at suicide Co'athon was borne to the guillotine. July 2-8, 1794, together with Saint Just and Robespierre. Consult: 3I&ge, Correspondance dc Couthon (Paris, 1872) ; Aulard, Les oraieurs de la legis- lative et de la convention (Paris, 1885-86) ; Morse-Stephens, The French Revolution (New York, 1891). COUTRAS, koH'tra'. A town in the Dep;irt- mcnl of Cironde, France, on t'le left bank of the Dronnc, 20 miles northeast of Bordeaux. Cou- tras has a trade in flour, and the district pro- duces red wine. The place is noteworthy on ac- count of the bloody victory gained here in 1587 by Henry of Navarre over the forces of the Cath- olic League. In this battle the Due de Joyeuse, commander of the Leaguers, was slain, as well as manv other great noblemen on the .same side. Population, in 1891, 4231; in 1901, 4002. COUTTS, koots. See Bukdett-Coutts. COUTURE, koo'tur', Thomas (1815-79). A French painter, born at Senlis, December 21. 1815. He studied under Gros, and after that master's death under Delaroche, without being a follower of either. In 1837 he obtained the Prix de Rome, and in 1845 his picture "The Thirst for Gold" brought him a wide reputation. His "Romans of the Decadence" obtained a first- class medal, and is now in the Louvre. Among his other works are the "Falconer" (1855) and "Damocles" (1872). Under Napoleon 111. he became Court painter, but he was not enough of a courtier to please the Emperor, and re- signed his position. In 1809 he retired to his estate, Villiers-le-Bel, near Paris, where he died on March 27, 1879. He was neglected in France, but his pictures were purchased by foreigners, especially by Americans. During his last period he painted many portraits, of which there are frequent examples in the museums of southern France. His art grew more symbolical with ad- vancing life. Many of his works, particularl}- his sketches, are preserved in the Barbedienne col- lection in Paris. Consult: Healey, "Couture^" in Van Dyke's Modern French Masters (New York, 1896) ;' Claretie, Pcintres et sculpteurs contem- jiorains (Paris, 1873). COUVADE, kiJo'vad' (Fr., a brooding, from couvrr, to hatch, from Lat. cuhare, to lie down). A custom of certain primitive peoples in accord- ance with which the father of a new-born babe adopts the role of invalid while the mother goes about her ordinary occupations. The custom was well deeloped on both hemispheres. On the au- thoritv of Strabo and later writers it was ascribed to the' Basques of Europ.e. a theory which has been much discussed; T>'lor regarded it as a survival of a supposed matriarchate into patriarchal society ; while Ripley is skeptical as to the i)res- ent existence of the custom among the Basques. Traces of it are found in Asia and in North America ; and it has been well observed in South America by Rodway (In the Guiana For- est, 1895). The custom would appear to mark one of the most important steps in human prog- ress, i.e. the transition from maternal organiza- tion to paternal organization. Recent researches tend to show that in all primitive society kinship is traced in the maternal line, because pater- nity is not recognized; that in this stage of civilization the tribal government is avuncu- lar or adelphiarchal rather than matriarchal; and that the recognition of paternity first pre- pares the way for tracing paternal kinship and its responsibilities, which are sometimes exag- cerated ceremonially into such observances as that of the couvade. Consult further: Ripley, The Races of Europe (1899) : ]IcGee, The Seri Indians (17th Rep. Bur. .Vm. Ethnology-) : Deni- ker. The Races of Man (1900) ; Keane, Ethnol-
