Marseille. 1806 . Joseph Antoine Roux . Portrait Of A Tartane In Rough Seas

The famous Roux family has owned a hydrographic store in the port of Marseille since the mid-18th century.
From father to son, they also became talented draughtsmen, creating commissioned portraits of ships for shipowners and visiting enthusiasts.
The precision of their depictions earned them the title of peintres de la Marine.
This work is by Ange Joseph Antoine Roux ( 1765-1835), considered the father of ship portraiture in France.
The ship depicted here, unlike the usual drawings where prestigious three-masted war or merchant ships are legion, is a dashing but modest tartane , a local vessel used for coastal trade between Marseille and Toulon.
It's interesting to note that the model shown is still faithful to the type of rigging used in the 16th century.
The tartane has since evolved with a single mast and a simpler sail plan.
This is a rare document of the sailboats in use around the city of Marseille in the early 19th century
The crew does not seem particularly worried about the sea, which has formed under a cloudy sky.
On the horizon, at the bow of the boat, we can see sailboats subtly sketched.
The watercolor is signed Antoine Roux , dated 1806 and located Marseille.
Work size: 36 cm x 52.5 cm
The frame is original from the firs part of XIXe century,  has "passe partout " a little burned by sur 
The watercolor has a little point of rudge,  but the condition is very pretty.