Artist. Born in Paris, he exhibited his paintings as early as 1924 but won fame later in the decade as a fashion illustrator. He worked for Vogue magazine from 1935 to 1948 and his designs influenced Christian Dior and Elsa Schiaparelli. Berard was also active in movies and the theatre, and is probably best remembered for the sets and costumes he created for Jean Cocteau’s classic film “Beauty and the Beast” (1946).  He died of a heart attack at 46,  after years of opium addiction and other dissolute habits.  Composer Francis Poulenc dedicated his great “Stabat Mater” (1950) to Berard’s memory.  (bio by: Bobb Edwards)