Timeline

Ferdinand Roybet was a painter of portraits and figurative subjects.

He was born at Uzes on April 20th 1840. Roybet was a pupil at the Ecole Des Beaux Arts in Lyon. He studied under Jean Vibert and first exhibited at The Salon in 1864. He settled in Paris where a painting titled “Jester of Henri III” won a medal at the Paris Salon in 1866.

His genre scenes, usually set in the 16th and 17th centuries, depict costumed figures in fine detail and were extremely popular with contemporary collectors. In particular, Spanish history and costumes experienced a revival in interest in the second half of the 19th century. The composition and palette of the present work is clearly influenced by the work of Velazquez.

Roybet became a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1893.

His works can be found in many museums and art galleries throughout Europe.