Gaussen studied painting at the school of fine art in Marseilles and later at the studio of Jean-Baptiste Olive.

He specialised in landscapes of all types, waterscapes and seascapes he spent the early part of his career in Paris and exhibited there from 1893 at the Salon of French Artists, of which he later became a member and at the Salon of the “Societe Coloniale”. He was also appointed official artist to the naval department and curator at the museum in Marseilles.

Much of the inspiration for his landscapes came from the ports and shores of the Mediterranean and various parts of Provence.

He held numerous one man exhibitions and was knighted for his services to art and his work is represented in the museums at Aix-en-Provence, Amsterdam, Arles, Beaune, Digne-les-Bains, Marseilles, New York, Nimes, Paris, Toulon and Troyes.

Adolphe Gaussen studied painting under the tutelage of Jean-Baptiste Olive at the School of Fine Arts in Marseille . He is considered one of the greatest painters from Marseille. He was appointed official painter of the Navy in 1928 . He was also appointed curator of the Cantini museum in Marseille. In 1946 he entered the Academy of Marseille .

Works in public collections:

• Arles , Réattu museum  : Le Cap Croisette
• Beaune Museum of Fine Arts  :
  • Ziem’s ​​workshop in Martigues 
  • Maritime Pines 
• Museum of Fine Arts of Marseille  :
  • Malaguéna 
  • Prado Beach 
• Marseille , Cantini museum  :
  • Cliff, French Riviera 
  • Cathedral 
• Toulon
  • art museum  : Marseille, the harbor
  • National Maritime Museum  : Vauban holds , circa 1920, oil on panel
• Fine Arts Museum of Troyes  : Fisherman’s refuge, French Riviera 
• Paris
  • National Maritime Museum  : Cales Couvertes
  • Musée d’Orsay  : Summer morning