Claude Roger-Marx (1888âÂÂ1977) was a French writer, playwright, art critic, art collector and art historian.
Claude Roger-Marx was born Jules Anne Claude Marx on 12 November 1888 in Paris, to and Elisa Cécile Nathan (1859âÂÂ1933).
In 1906, Roger-Marx graduated with his baccalauréat. Roger-Marx then studied at the University of Paris Faculty of Law.
Roger-Marx published two novels, before he wrote plays. In 1927 he became a chevalier of the Légion d'honneur. Roger Marx's art collection included Edouard Manet's La Sultan and Paul Signac's Voiles dans la brume. Canal de la Giudecca. He also used the pen name Claudine'.
When Nazi Germany invaded France in 1940 in World War II, Jews were persecuted. Roger-Marx, who was Jewish, was suspended from his duties in December 1940. He fled to Marseille in 1941, and in 1943 to Isère. His art collection was seized by the E.R.R., the Nazi looting organization operating in France. His son, Denis, was imprisoned by the Gestapo and executed on February 25, 1944.
His real career as critic and art historian started after the war. He was a great admirer of art, and became inspector of the ÃÂcoles des Beaux-Arts (schools of fine arts). He also was chroniqueur attitré of the Figaro, especially the Figaro Littéraire, its literary supplement, as well as of the Revue de Paris. In 1956 he was made commander of the Légion d'honneur.
In 1912, Roger-Marx married Florestine "Mayotte" Caroline Marie Nathan. The couple had two children, Paulette (1913âÂÂ1994) and the French Resistance fighter (1922âÂÂ1944).