Ferdinand Roybet (1840-1920) was born in Uzès (Gard) April 12, 1840 and died in Paris April 10, 1920. He is considered a portrait and genre painter from the French School. Roybet was also an engraver.

Roybet received his first training as a print maker at the Academy in Lyon, France. He then traveled to Paris to study with Jean Vibert (1840-1902) at the Beaux-Arts Academie.

In 1865, Roybet debuted at the Salon des Champs-Elysèes with two small watercolors. In the Salon of 1866, he exhibited Unfoursous Henri III, which was purchased by Princess Mathilde. This sale solidified his career and future as a genre painter. Roybet's small costume paintings of Musketeers and handsome gentleman became sought after by collectors.

In 1871, Ferdinand Roybet traveled to Holland to study and paint in the museums. During this period, Roybet developed his skills by painting numerous Rembrandt and Franz Hals copies.

At the 1892 Salon, Roybet exhibited Juana Romani and Propos galants, which was purchased by M. Mac Leod for 100,000fr. He won a Mèdaille d'honneur at the Expositions Universelles d'Anvers in 1894 for the work Charles le Tèmèraire à Nesles. In 1893, he won the Mèdaille d'honneur and was appointed Chevalier de la Lègion d'honneur.

Museums:
Ameins:"Duc d'Urbino
Avignon: "L'homme au verre de vin"
Bagnols:"Etude d'enfant"
Bordeaux:"Le gèographe"
Boston:"Une Enfant", "Petit garcon avec plateau"
Bucarest:"Portrait de Sènègalier"
Cologne:"Dèpart pour chasse"
Dunkerque:"Le hallebardier"
Grenoble:"Un fou sous Henri III"
Lyon:"Un arquebusier", "Portrait of d'Hector Brame jeune"
Montpellier:"Gentilhomme flamand du XVII siècle"
Montrèal:"Le brigand"
Moscow:"Page avec de cheins"
Mulhouse:"Le gèographe", "Le buveur"
Metropolitan,NY:"Le jeu de cartes"
Nice: "Propos galants"
Paris (Louvre, Collection Chauchard): "Le fumeur", (Luxembourg) "Jeune fille au perroquet"
Reims: "Seigneur Louis XIII au manreau rouge"
Rouen: "Tète de jeune homme"

Roybet began his career in Lyon. In 1864 he went to Paris, where he studied and exhibited with J. G. Vibert. His colorful genre work soon met with critical success. A Salon debut in 1865 was followed by the patronage of the Emperor's sister.

The prestigious French Legion of Honor medal was won in 1893 and others followed in Antwerp, Berlin, and Vienna. He was especially appreciated for his depiction of historic costumes and carpets much in the tradition of Flemish old masters.

Examples of his best work include A Musical Party, painted in 1877 and owned by W. H. Vanderbilt, and Le Refus des Impts, exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1909.

Numerous important European museums own his work, as does the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.