Born into a modest family, Félix Ziem was born on February 25, 1821, in Beaune. After studying at the École des Beaux-Arts in Dijon, he turned to painting, influenced by his extensive travels. Italy, and particularly Venice, had a profound influence on his style, as did his time in Russia and the Middle East.
In Paris from 1849, he maintained an attachment to Barbizon and Martigues, nicknamed "The Venice of Provence." A friend of Théodore Rousseau and Jean-François Millet, he joined the circle of Barbizon painters. In 1857, he received the Legion of Honor, and his paintings were exhibited at the Louvre during his lifetime, a rare honor at the time.
A tireless traveler, he toured Constantinople, Egypt, Algeria, and Greece. In 1904, he married Ursule Treilles. The city of Martigues paid tribute to him by creating the Ziem Museum in 1910. He died in Paris on November 10, 1911, and is buried in the Père-Lachaise cemetery.
