Paul Merwart

Paul Merwart, or Paweł Merwart (25 March 1855, Marianovka, Kherson Governorate, Russian Empire – 8 May 1902, Saint-Pierre, Martinique), was a Polish-French illustrator and painter; mostly of portraits and genre scenes, inspired by literature, the Bible, and music.

His mother was Polish and his father was a French soldier who was serving in the Crimean War.

[1] In this position, he made trips to the Canary Islands, Senegal, Sudan, Kongo, Tunisia, Mauretania, Somalia, and Guiana.

In April 1902, he accompanied a government commission to investigate volcanic activity on Martinique.

In May, he was one of almost 30,000 people killed when Mount Pelée suddenly erupted, destroying the town of Saint-Pierre.