François Roux

The Roux Family of Marseilles was a family of hydrographers and marine painters that specialized in ship portraits. While many generations were involved in the hydrographic business, it was really only three generations who painted and became known for their skill and accuracy in portraying a ship, making their work seem more like a photograph than a painting. The painters in the family were Joseph, Ange-Joseph Antoine, Mathieu-Antoine, Ursule-Josephine, François Joseph Frédéric and François Geoffroi.

Joseph Roux was born in 1725 in Marseille, France to Joseph Roux, who worked as a hydrographer, and Magdaleine Senequier. He took over the family business and became a hydrographer like his father, “in the course of which he published, manufactured, and sold a wide assortment of charts, navigating instruments, and related nautical gear.” It was probably around the mid-18th century when Joseph earned the title of “Hydrographe du Roi” meaning Hydrographer to the King. In 1764, Joseph published a folio of twelve Mediterranean charts which were used for a number of years after their publication. Copies were even used on HMS Victory in 1803 and 1805, as well as on HMS Shannon. Joseph was also known to paint, though not as frequently as his son or grandchildren. Two such works, oil paintings titled Bonhomme Richard vs Serapis and Naval Engagement between a British East Indiaman and a French Warship, exist at the Peabody Essex Museum and showcase Joseph’s skill as a painter. Joseph died in 1793 in Marseille.

Folio of twelve Mediterranean charts published by Joseph Roux in 1764

Inside cover of Joseph Roux's folio of Mediterranean charts

One of the charts inside Joseph's folio

Octant made by Joseph Roux ca 1780

Ange-Joseph Antoine Roux, who went by “Antoine Roux”, was born March 5, 1765 in Marseille, France to Joseph Roux and Marie-Ursule Demoline. He grew up in his father’s hydrographic shop where he most likely picked up a great deal of nautical knowledge. The earliest known work by Antoine is a sketch from 1787, signed and dated, showing pieces of a man-of-war. Later sketchbooks are in the collection at the Peabody Essex Museum. Antoine became famous for his ship portraits and shipowners and captains were eager to entrust him with the task of creating paintings for their ships. He became very popular for the accuracy in his ship portraits and the way he made them seem alive.

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