A Tribute to Franco-German Friendship

In the "Archival item of the month" series, the German Maritime Museum (DSM) / Leibniz Institute for Maritime History regularly presents a special treasure from the archive. In January, DSM-Doctoral Candidate Anja Binkofski recalls the history of Franco-German friendship and the Elysée Treaty, which celebrates its 63rd anniversary on January 22^nd. Fittingly, the DSM's collection includes several works by the French artist Antoine Roux.

January 22^nd marks Franco-German Day, an occasion rooted in the Élysée Treaty of 1963, which celebrates its 63rd anniversary in 2025. This agreement represented a turning point in the relationship between Germany and France after centuries of conflict shaped both nations' histories. The treaty, signed by Konrad Adenauer and Charles de Gaulle, laid the foundation for close cooperation in politics, culture, and education (Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Baden-Württemberg). Present-day, this day reminds us of the power of reconciliation and the importance of cross-border friendship.

In line with this occasion, we take a closer look at the works of French artist Antoine Roux from our collection. Born in 1765 in Marseille, Antoine Roux was a maritime painter who, during his lifetime, received only limited recognition for his talent. Today, he is best known for his intricate depictions of ships and harbour scenes in the port of Marseille (Foster Smith, 1978). In Marseille, one of the most significant port cities of the Mediterranean, Roux grew up in an environment shaped by seafaring and maritime trade. His father, a royal hydrographer, introduced Roux early on to the world of shipping. Many of Roux's works show with meticulous accuracy the ships of his era, including their construction and equipment (Foster Smith, 1978). Although the art world did not fully appreciate his work until long after his death, his paintings were highly popular among sea captains worldwide. Some American ships even made a detour to Marseille just to be immortalized by Roux in a painting (Wikipedia, 2024). Little is known about Roux's private life, but his legacy as a maritime painter was carried on by his sons (Foster Smith, 1978).

His works include impressively detailed depictions of various sailing ships, as seen in our collection, as well as portraits of captains who visited the port of Marseille. At least 22 colour prints of his watercolour paintings are listed in the database of the German Maritime Museum. The painting “French Frigate” (1) depicts a three-masted French warship sailing on the starboard side, with its hoisted flag at the stern emphasizing its national affiliation. The meticulously drawn rigging and partially unfurled sails show Roux's technical precision. The watercolour painting dates back to the 18th century, with a colour print available in the museum's archive. The turbulent sea and the minimalist background lend the scene a dynamic and timeless quality. The piece “Swedish Three-Masted Ship in Heavy Sea” portrays a ship under the Swedish flag, distinguished by its dramatic representation: dark clouds in the sky and the turbulent sea vividly bring the challenges of seafaring to life. In the background, a much smaller sailing vessel is seen in a perilous tilt due to the storm. This work in our collection is also a later colour print of the original watercolour painting from the 19th century. The work “French Sailing Ship LE SOLIDE” stands out for its calmer depiction in black and white. It shows the starboard view of the French sailing ship LE SOLIDE navigating through ice fields. The exact location of the ice fields is not specified. The original watercolour was created around 1880, with a photographic print preserved in the German Maritime Museum archive. Together, these works illustrate the technical details of ships, as well as capture the atmosphere and significance of the maritime world of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The watercolour paintings of this French artist from Marseille highlight the connections people have forged across the seas through their shared love of ships and art.

In times of geopolitical unrest, it is crucial to use occasions like Franco-German Day to remind ourselves of the relevance of peace and cooperation. Franco-German Day is not only a symbol of the friendship between our two countries but also a call for a united Europe. Peace is an active decision to move forward together into a proactive future. Germany and France took this step in 1963 and have since worked continuously to maintain this relationship.

(1) The names of the paintings mentioned in this article are taken from the German Maritime Museum's database and do not necessarily correspond to the names under which the paintings are known in the art world.