Sunday, January 29, 2017

Decorative Virtues of Hubert Robert

Hubert Robert
Ruins of a Doric Temple
1783
oil on canvas
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Hubert Robert
Capriccio with Equesterian Statue of Marcus Aurelius and Medici Venus
1789
oil on canvas
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

The several canvases by Hubert Robert (1733-1808) seen here are still no more than a fraction of the paintings by this artist at the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg. Robert was an on-again off-again favorite with Denis Diderot (1713-1784) who acted as unofficial art adviser to his Russian friend, Catherine the Great. This fact alone would seem to explain the abundance of Hubert Robert canvases at the Hermitage  except for the fact that there is a roughly equal number of them also at the Prado in Madrid and in England's Royal Collection, not to mention the Louvre. The dignity and orderliness of Robert's ruins and bucolic vistas opened every courtly market to his work. It was ironic that this happened at the very end of the age when courtiers could still decide what kind of art received favor.

Hubert Robert
Capriccio with Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius  and Colosseum
1758
wash drawing
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Hubert Robert
Artists among Ancient Ruins
1796
wash drawing
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Hubert Robert
Landscape with Stairs and Obelisk
1770s
oil on canvas
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Hubert Robert
Pool with Obelisk
1773
oil on canvas
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Hubert Robert
Fantasy Ruins with Canal
1783
oil on canvas
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Hubert Robert
Pool surrounded by Colonnade
1760s
oil on canvas
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Hubert Robert
Landscape with Aqueduct in Mountains
1780s
oil on canvas
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Hubert Robert
The Green Wall
ca. 1790-95
oil on canvas
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Hubert Robert
Landscape with Stone Bridge
ca. 1785
oil on canvas
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Hubert Robert
Cypresses
1773
oil on canvas
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Hubert Robert
Landscape with Statue of Isis
1762
drawing
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg

Hubert Robert
Corner of a Park
1763
drawing
Hermitage, Saint Petersburg