Originally from Germany, Marius settled in California. He lived in Oakland from 1909 to 1917, and painting coastal scenes, landscapes, California Missions and gardens. He exhibited with the San Francisco Art Association.

After 1917, due to the anti-Geman sentiment of World War I, Marius began signing his work, Marius Smith. Towards the end of his life, he lived in the Laguna Beach area until his death. Source: Askart