Felix Ziem

Felix-François Georges Philibert Ziem known as Ziem , born the February 25th 1821 with Beaune (Coast-with Or) and deceased the November 10th 1911 with Paris, was a French painter of the École of known Barbizon especially for its marine.

Biography

Wire of Burgundian and a Polish emigrant, it grew in Burgundy where it studied architecture with Dijon. In 1839, a disagreement with the direction of the School of the Art schools of Dijon, makes him leave the area to join his/her brother installed with Marseilles. It then begins a career of architect with the construction of the aqueduct of Roquefavour which must bring water to Marseilles.

Very quickly it changes vocation and opens an art school on the Old man-Port. Its reputation will quickly be made and the many pupils. In 1840, he discovers Martigues where he will return to install a workshop in 1860. In 1841, it leaves Marseilles to go in Italy. It stops some time in Nice where remain of English rich person or Russian who constitutes part of his customers. In 1842, he discovers for the first time Italy, and especially Venice which will become the independent source of inspiration for its painting. From 1842 to 1847 he traverses all Italy and the South of France. In 1849, it settles with Paris and division its time between the capital and the Forêt of Fontainebleau where he becomes the friend of Theodore Rousseau and Jean-François Millet. It then paints scenes of daily life, portraits, and landscapes pastoral, which will attach it to the school of Barbizon.

It exposes for the first time to the Salon of Paris of 1849, and will be relative accustomed. In 1859, he moves for the district of Montmartre, before the insane boiling of the school of Paris, and settles street of the Emperor (become Rue Lepic) but guard always a foot with ground with Barbizon. Recluse, it côtoie hardly the other artists of his generation, will not train any pupil and will hardly lavish lessons. From 1850 to 1880, he traverses Europe of the England to the Netherlands while passing by the East (Constantinople, the Algérie), but especially Venice where he remains at least twice a year. In 1860, it is made build a workshop in Martigues where the channels of the small fishing port, leading to the pond of Berre (Rhone delta), will inspire to him by many tables which will constitute the funds of workshop of the Musée Ziem of this city (it is partly thanks to him that Martigues will be called “Venice of Provence”). In 1880, it installs another workshop in Nice, where it consequently passes the majority of its time when it is not in Paris.

Prolix painter, it has a great production which one estimates at more than 10.000 painted works. In November 1911 with its death, he is a painter admired and recognized, only artist having entered to the Louvre of alive sound by the Chauchard legacy.

External bonds

the Ziem Museum of Martigues
Felix Ziem on the site of its birthplace, Beaune

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