Franz Alekseevich Roubaud is an outstanding Russian battle painter of the late 19th – early 20th centuries, a recognized master of panoramic painting, professor and academician of the St. Petersburg and Bavarian Academies of Arts. Born on June 5, 1856 in Odessa, Franz Roubaud became the founder of the Russian school of battle panorama, playing a significant role in the development of this genre in Russia.
Franz Roubaud′s parents were emigrants from France who settled in Odessa. His father, Alex Roubaud, was a bookseller, and his mother, Madeleine Senec, was a tailor. From a young age, Franz showed a talent for drawing, which led him to the Odessa Drawing School, where he studied from 1865 to 1877. Later, Roubaud continued his education at the Munich Academy of Arts (1878-1883), where his mentor was the famous master of battle painting, Joseph Brandt.
After completing his studies, Roubaud actively traveled around the Caucasus, Ukraine and Central Asia, which was reflected in his work. Inspired by what he saw, he received an order from the Tiflis Museum "Temple of Glory" for a series of paintings dedicated to the Caucasian wars. This order became the starting point for the artist in creating his first major work - the panorama "Storming the Aul of Akhulgo" (1890), which was highly appreciated and brought him recognition in the international arena. In 1891, after the successful exhibition of this panorama in Munich, Roubaud was awarded the title of professor of the Bavarian Academy of Arts and awarded the Order of St. Michael.
One of Franz Roubaud′s most significant works was the panorama "Defense of Sevastopol" (1902-1904), created by official order for the 50th anniversary of the heroic defense of the city during the Crimean War. This large-scale project, for the implementation of which a whole team of artists was involved, became the pinnacle of his creativity. The panorama was opened on May 27, 1905 in a specially built building in Sevastopol and aroused great interest from the public. Roubaud also created another grand panorama - "The Battle of Borodino" (1912), dedicated to the centenary of the Patriotic War of 1812. Work on this panorama was carried out with the participation of several German artists and consultants, and the canvas itself, measuring 115 by 15 meters, was painted in just 11 months. Initially, the panorama was presented in the pavilion on Chistye Prudy in Moscow, and later, after restoration, it was reopened in 1962 in the panorama museum on Kutuzovsky Prospekt.
In 1912, against the backdrop of world events, Roubaud finally settled in Germany. Here he continued to work, but by the end of his life he no longer received significant orders and lived in relative oblivion. Despite this, his contribution to the development of battle painting and the perpetuation of the most important events in Russian military history remains invaluable. Franz Alexeevich Roubaud died on March 13, 1928 in Munich. Franz Alexeevich Roubaud left behind a rich legacy in the form of large-scale panoramas and battle paintings, many of which have become an integral part of Russia′s cultural heritage. His works, such as "Storming the Aul of Akhulgo", "Defense of Sevastopol" and "The Battle of Borodino", continue to delight viewers and art researchers with their precision and emotional intensity. Roubaud is an example of an artist whose works not only reflect historical events, but are also a powerful tool of national memory, allowing future generations to understand and feel the dramatic moments of the past.