Félix Ziem

Moonlight, oil on canvas hand-signed, Felix Ziem (1821-1911)

Felix Ziem was born in Beaune, Burgundy in 1821. Originally Ziem planned to be an architect and studied at the National School of Architecture of Nancy in Dijon. For a while, he worked as an architect. In 1839, he moved to Marseilles, where he received some informal instruction in painting from Adolphe Monticelli (1824–86). Painting developed from a hobby into a career following a visit in 1841 to Italy, where he fell in love with the city of Venice, a place that would become the source for many of his works and to which he returned annually until 1892. Apart from Venetian scenes, he also painted many still lifes, portraits and landscapes from a variety of places: including Constantinople, Martigues, Cagnes-sur-Mer and his native Burgundy. Ziem's works were first exhibited in 1849 at the Salon in Paris and he remained a regular exhibitor there for many years. He also traveled extensively throughout Europe and in 1860, he moved to Montmartre, the artistic district of Paris. Financially successful, he was known to help young artists. In 1857, the French government recognized his contribution to the art world by making him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.