FERDINAND VICTOR LEON ROYBET (FRENCH, 1840-1920) OIL ON MAHOGANY PANEL, 1901 H 61 1/4" W 39" 'LES SAVANTS',:Depicting a group of scholars in 17th c. dress. The beveled mahogany panel is in three sections: there is the main panel and then two smaller panels (each being c. 8" in height) at the top and the bottom with a c. 1/2" 'frame' going from the top to the bottom on each side of the entire painting. The signature reads "F. Roybet" with the date of 1901 immediately following it. The following labels and markings appear on the verso of the frame: Exposition d POTTIER, EMBALLEUR de Tableaux, & Objects d' art 14, Rue Gaillon, PARIS; Art Logistics Limited ALE/1249 Ex. De Beer D'orsay Roybet 'Les Savants'; 5836 1,901; W 121; 37 [possibly a 5 after this #, the label is partial]; the frame is inscribed in several locations on its verso, "Doreur-Paris Wadenberg". Original 7" wide very 3-dimensional frame made of gilt over molded gesso over wood with bold shell and leaf and berry dominant motifs. Ferdinand Roybet, French portrait artist, painter of genre and printmaker born at Uzes [Gard] April 12, 1840, died at Paris April 10, 1920. Roybet began his studies at the Lyon School of Printmaking and in 1864 he studied under Vibert in Paris. His first exhibition was in 1865 at the Salon des Champes-Elysees, and later that year he exhibited two etchings at the Society of Aquatint Artists. At the Salon of 1866 his painting 'Un Fou Sous Henri III' was purchased by princess Mathilde. This acquisitionn was a benchmark for Roybet's career. He painted a number of very large and small costume paintings with the subjects being musketeers, noblemen and reiters executed in a very detailed, but also original way, and manifesting his virtuosity and great skill and use of color. In 1871 Roybet visited the various museums in Holland and did a number of copies of works by Rembrant and Franz Hals. He stopped exhibiting at the Salon in 1892. In 1893 Mr. Mac Leod purchased the painting 'Propos Galants' for 100,000 francs while his work 'Charles Le Temeraire a Nesles' was awarded the medal of honor and in 1894 he received the same award at the Anvers Universal Exposition. F. Roybet received another medal of honor in 1893 as well as 'chavalier de la Legion d'honneur'. Fabulous quality with excellent details and portrait quality to the faces. Appears to be some minor in-painting also some old cracking of the paint. Frame slightly chipped. (As viewed under UV light in the unopened frame: appears to be UV clean; has craquelure; period gilt frame.) The frame height is 75" and the width is 54".