Ferdinand Louis Marks was born Jan. 3 1861 in Bayeux (Calvados) France
His father, Laurent Ferdinand Marks (or Markowski) of Polish origin, was an art metalworker who traveled for his job. His mother, Marie Catherine Sauer, was from Sarrebruck (then in Prussia).
Ferdinand Louis had an elder sister Cécile (born 1859) and a younger brother, Albert (born 1871), also an artist.
In 1902, he married Marie Camille Lacotte, and they had 5 children.
He lived and worked in Paris, but also had a house in Metz (Moselle), where his parents and brother lived.

He died January 16 1941 in Boulogne-Billancourt (suburb of Paris).