Felix Ziem was born in 1821 in Beaune to a Croatian father married to a woman from Burgundy and first studied architecture in a school in Dijon. Ziem was attracted by Venice and Frdric Chopin, the famous Polish musician, said that this city was his real fatherland. It was in 1842, during a trip to Italy, that he discovered Venice where he painted so many scenes.
Ziem also traveled to Greece, to Turkey and to Russia in 1844. He went on to visit Belgium, Holland, England, Egypt, Hungary and Algeria.
Much active he exhibited his works many times in Paris from 1849 and also worked in Barbizon where he bought a house from the painter Charles Jacque.
Ziem also possessed houses in Venice, Martigues, Nice and Paris. Apart from Venetian scenes, he produced many watercolours as well as drawings.
He imposed a new vision of Venice with special lighting effects and warm colours in his paintings.
Ziem was a most complete painter who also produced still lifes, oriental and genre scenes, portraits and landscapes. Much productive, he came to the help of many poor artists and was awarded several prizes during his career.
He died in 1911.
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