ROBERT, Hubert, ATTRIBUIERT (1733 - 1808), 'Landschaftscapriccio mit Tempelruinen', mid 18th century,

ROBERT, Hubert, ATTRIBUTED (1733 - 1808), ´Landscape Capriccio with Temple Ruins`, mid-18th century, The ancient buildings rising in the background were undoubtedly inspired by motifs from Tivoli. They are presumably the temples of Vesta and Sibyl. A female figure is depicted in the foreground on the right with her head turned back over her shoulder. Red chalk on laid paper, HxW sheet: approx. 26.4 x 40.4 cm. Sheet partially mounted on old backing, mounted in spots behind passepartout in the corners. Verso paraphe similar to Lugt 1419 and numbering in pencil (possibly John Barnard Collection, London). Traces of age and rubbing. Sheet slightly browned, slightly stained, minor tears, old restored additions to missing areas in the margins. Without frame. NOTE: Hubert Robert is considered one of the most important painters of ruin landscapes of French classicism. In 1754 he travelled to Rome as a pensioner of the French Academy and there, inspired by the works of Giovanni Paolo Panini and Giovanni Battista Piranesi, found his own approach to ruin painting. It was not until 1765, after more than ten years in Rome, that Hubert Robert returned to Paris. Literature: Thieme-Becker, vol. XXVIII, p. 420 f..