As one of history’s greatest creators of poetic images, Hubert Robert trod a remarkable artistic path during the 18th century, from Rome, to France, and beyond. The Louvre Museum in Paris recently mounted a major exhibition dedicated to this “enlightened” painter.
“Hubert Robert: A Visionary Painter” is the first monographic exhibition devoted to the life and career of Hubert Robert (1733-1808) since 1933. Opened on March 9 at the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris, the exhibition features some 140 works by Robert, including drawings, paintings, prints, furniture, and much more.
Hubert Robert, “Projet pour la Transformation de la Grande Galerie,” 1796, oil, (c) Louvre Museum 2016
Via the exhibition webpage: “Witty and urbane with an endlessly enquiring mind, Hubert Robert was a true man of the Enlightenment. He followed a remarkable artistic path that led him from Rome in the mid-18th century to the court of France, where he produced some of the most spectacular decors in the brilliant decade that preceded the French Revolution. A chronicler of Paris and of the stormy history that rocked the late 18th century, he ended his distinguished career as a thoughtful and committed curator of the brand new Muséum Central des Arts, the future Musée du Louvre. The work of this visionary artist was both eclectic and deeply coherent. It encompassed a broad range of genres: poetic landscapes, imaginary urban views inspired by architectural capricci, archaeological studies, remarkable and innovative designs for gardens and palatial decorations.”
“Hubert Robert: A Visionary Painter” will be on view through May 30. To learn more, visit the Louvre Museum.
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