THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
The following eleven watercolours painted by members of the famous Roux family form the nucleus of an unique private collection.
A brief history about the members of the family whose work appears here is as follows:
The Roux Dynasty
Ange Joseph Antoine Roux (1765-1835) or Antoine Roux (pere) Arguably the most successful of all, he was the father and master of Mathieu Antoine, Frederic and Francois Geoffroi. His work remained superior in quality and was the inspiration to a whole following of aspiring French and Italian marine watercolour painters.
Frederic Roux (1805-1870)
One of the son's of Antoine Roux (pere), he became an apprentice to Horace Vernet at a young age, and was soon painting for the French court and nobleman in Paris. He is known for his watercolours of Le Havre and for the high quality of his work which won international acclaim.
Francois Geoffroi Roux (1811-1882)
The youngest of Antoine Roux's sons, Francois was nominated 'Peintre officiel de la Marine' in 1876. Working, as he did, for most of his life in the family workshop in Marseilles, his work is similar but, if anything, finished in even greater detail.
There are examples of all these three members of the Roux family in museums worldwide, including The Peabody Museum of Salem, Le Musee de la Marine, Paris and the Musee de la Marine, Marseille. Their dynasty was to influence a whole school of maritime ship portraiture.
Francois Geoffroi Roux (1811-1882)
Details
Francois Geoffroi Roux (1811-1882)
Louis Napoleon arriving in Marseille on 29 May 1854 from Martinique signed, inscribed and dated 'F.cois Roux Marseille ... 1855' and further inscribed 'Louis Napoleon. Cap.ne A le Blanc. Arrivant a Marseille le 29 Mai 1854 Venant de la Martinique Ayantpour Passagers la famille F.Canezza
pencil, pen and watercolour heightened with white
20 x 27in. (51 x 68.5cm.)
Louis Napoleon arriving in Marseille on 29 May 1854 from Martinique signed, inscribed and dated 'F.cois Roux Marseille ... 1855' and further inscribed 'Louis Napoleon. Cap.ne A le Blanc. Arrivant a Marseille le 29 Mai 1854 Venant de la Martinique Ayantpour Passagers la famille F.Canezza
pencil, pen and watercolour heightened with white
20 x 27in. (51 x 68.5cm.)